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Pakistan not to allow U.S. drone strikes expansion

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Nov 20, IRNA -- Pakistan Saturday said that it would not allow expansion of U.S. drone strikes in the country and called for enhanced cooperation between intelligence agencies of the two countries.

Washington Post has reported that the United States has renewed pressure on Pakistan to expand the areas where CIA drones can operate inside the country, reflecting concern that the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan is being undermined by insurgents' continued ability to take sanctuary across the border.

The U.S. appeal has focused on the area surrounding the Pakistani city of Quetta, where the Afghan Taliban leadership is thought to be based.

“Our policy is very clear on drone strikes. No question arises to allow drone attacks in our settled areas,” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said.

The U.S. regularly uses spy planes to fire rockets into Pakistan Waziristan tribal region to hit what Americans describe as hideouts of the militants, who plan attacks on foreign and Afghan forces across the border into Afghanistan.

The drone strike expansion report came a day after a drone fired on a vehicle in North Waziristan and killed at least three people.

The push to expand the drone strikes has come up repeatedly in recent months, The Washington Post quoted Pakistani officials as saying.

The United States has also urged Pakistan to launch a military offensive in North Waziristan, a redoubt for militant groups including al-Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban and the Haqqani network, considered the most lethal foe of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

“Our policy vis-à-vis drone strike is very clear. We are against drone attacks and are taking up the issue with the U.S.,” the Pakistani spokesman told Pakistani TV channels.

“We strongly believe and hope that American interlocutors understand what our position is,” he said. He said there is a Red Line for the operation and “We will not allow drone strikes in settled areas,” he insisted.

The Washington Post reported that the U.S. officials confirmed the request for expanded drone flights, citing concern that the Pakistani city of Quetta functions not only as a sanctuary for Afghan Taliban leaders but also as a base for sending money, recruits and explosives to Taliban forces inside Afghanistan.

The Pakistani spokesman rejected the notion of Quetta Shura and said, “Quetta Shura -- it is all very ambiguous and dubious. We are asking western friends to share intelligence with us as our forces are capable to take action”.

Also rejecting any possibility of U.S. operation on Pakistani soil, Abdul Basit said Pakistan has asked for enhanced cooperation and intelligence sharing.

“Operation on our soil by other forces is out of question and any operation will only be done by Pakistani forces only,” the spokesman said.

“There is an ongoing cooperation between our intelligence outfits and there is a need for increased cooperation between our intelligence agencies.”

Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30082594