Pakistan lacks intent to stop drones: Armitage

[third eye]

Pakistan lacks intent to stop drones: Armitage

WASHINGTON - Former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says that while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is condemning drone strikes and is demanding that the US has to stop these attacks, in reality, if Pakistan wants these drone attacks to stop, they can stop.

In an interview with Aljazeera, Armitage said “each time the government of Pakistan speaks up about drone strikes and does nothing about it, it incites public opinion in Pakistan, but it doesn't do anything to resolve the issue.”On drone strikes’ impact on the US-Pakistan relationship, Armitage responded: Although drone strikes incite a very negative public opinion in Pakistan, almost any Pakistani if given the opportunity to come to the United States would “do it in a heartbeat.” – implying that the relationship is very complex.

Richard Armitage, who served the Washington from 2011 to 2005 as the second secretary of state, said that post 9/11 attack time was very crucial for Islamabad and Washington.
The former secretary said that the Abbottabad incident was not an invasion; it was an operation where a terrorist got killed. “If Pakistan wants to perceive that act as an invasion then it’s up to Islamabad.”

He said: “He is in favour of Drone attacks but the usage of the drones must be after thought processing. Pakistan is capable to stop Drones attacks.”
Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) DG Ahmed Shuja Pasha in his statement to the Abbottabad Commission admitted the utility of drone strikes but added that they violate Pakistan’s sovereignty.

According to the commission’s reports, Pasha said: “There is no written agreement on drone strikes but there is a political understanding between Pakistan and the United States. “It was easier to say no to them in the beginning”

According to the report, the former DG said the Americans had been asked to stop drone strikes because of the civilian casualties they caused; "it was easier to say no to them in the beginning, but 'now it is more difficult' to do so".

The report quotes Pasha to have said: "Admittedly the drone attacks had their utility, but they represented a breach of national sovereignty. They are legal according to American law but illegal according to international law."

 

[Maler]

"Although drone strikes incite a very negative public opinion in Pakistan, almost any Pakistani if given the opportunity to come to the United States would “do it in a heartbeat.”

Thats called hypocrisy!!!!!!

 

[SQ8]

"Although drone strikes incite a very negative public opinion in Pakistan, almost any Pakistani if given the opportunity to come to the United States would “do it in a heartbeat.”

Thats called hypocrisy!!!!!!

No, that is called being a politician.

 

[cleverrider]

Hardly surprising, Majority of the drone strikes take place with Collaboration of CIA & ISI.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Hardly surprising, Majority of the drone strikes take place with Collaboration of CIA & ISI.

Co-operation or not, permission is always there.

 

[KingMamba]

That is because it is a non issue diplomatically speaking but of course the Pakistani government cannot come out and say that they are complicit.

"Although drone strikes incite a very negative public opinion in Pakistan, almost any Pakistani if given the opportunity to come to the United States would “do it in a heartbeat.”

Thats called hypocrisy!!!!!!

The most visa application this year were by Indians who outnumbered all other nation's visa applicants combined. Nothing wrong with it of course but point being given the opportunity citizens from third world nations would flock in a heart beat to a place like America because it offers a better lifestyle.

 

[Side-Winder]

No doubt,strikes are done with permission of state ---- and i don't think govt will have balls to stop untill US leaves afghanistan