Taliban: We Shot Down a U.S. Drone Over Pakistan
March 9, 2009 | 7:45 am
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Taliban: We Shot Down a U.S. Drone Over Pakistan | Danger Room | Wired.com
In the last year, U.S. drones have struck militant compounds in Pakistan more than 40 times, killing hundreds. Over the weekend, the local Taliban shot down one of the unmanned aircraft that have been so deadly to the jihadists.
That is, if you believe the militants. So far, though, no wreckage has been found. And officials on all sides are denying any shoot-down took place.
The jihadists say they took down the unmanned aircraft in the Angoor Adda area of South Waziristan the home base of notorious Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. U.S. forces have attacked the region at least five times in recent months.
"Locals said they had seen a small plane flying over the area at low altitude
militants resorted to heavy firing when they saw it. But they were unaware whether the plane was struck or not," Pakistans Dawn newspaper reports.
Residents and a local police official said two drones were flying low over a village in South Waziristan when one of them was hit by militant fire. "We heard the firing by the Taliban and then a drone fell down," police official Israr Khan said.
So far, however, Pakistan army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas says they "havent found any wreckage" from the alleged crash. Even if they do, it doesnt necessarily mean the drone was shot down. Two Air Force unmanned aircraft have crashed, just in the last month. Sometimes, bad weather is to blame; sometimes, its an electrical short.
Other times, there are problems when a drones remote pilot in Nevada hands off control to the local guys, responsible for landing the robotic planes.
But the unmanned aircraft do fly low and slow enough that a very, very lucky rifle shot could take a drone out. And the robotic planes are pretty much sitting ducks, against more sophisticated air defense systems. Some Pakistani Army units have been practicing their drone shoot-down drills.
In September, an American-made drone crashed in Pakistan; its parts were displayed for local television. Americas top military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, claimed that the unmanned aircraft didnt belong to the United States. Perhaps he meant the U.S. military the drones over Pakistan are operated by the C.I.A., and flown from bases in Pakistan.
On Monday afternoon, local time, The News of Pakistan reported that "four U.S. drones are [said] to be hovering over tribal areas of North Waziristan. According to sources, the tribesmen are firing at the drones."
