ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has condemned a drone strike in Kurram Agency carriedout by the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) Wednesday morning, which targetedan Afghan refugee camp.
In a statement, Foreign Office spokesman pointed out that Pakistan hascontinued to emphasize to the US the importance of sharing actionableintelligence so that appropriate action is taken against terrorists by ourforces within our territory.
The United States has persisted with its drone strikes within Pakistan withvaried frequency and intervals but the latest one is particularlyregrettable as it has several connotations.
The attack has come at a time when the United States and Pakistan areengaged in both formal and track-II diplomacy to sort out their differenceson how to proceed ahead with their cooperation in the on-going war onterror.
This clearly showed that Washington was not serious and sincere inresolution of the differences through dialogue and wants to increasepressure on Islamabad to make it bow before its undue demands.
This is a message that the United States would use all the leverages at itsdisposal to browbeat and pressurize Pakistan that has long been even morethan the United States on counter-terrorism front.
The attack also leaves a very pertinent question for our policy anddecision makers to ponder over – if the United States is not willing toshare intelligence then what is justification for Pakistan to shareintelligence with RSM in Afghanistan.
The target of the drone strike also speaks volumes about genuineness of thepoint repeatedly raised by Pakistan that until and unless cooperation isextended for repatriation of three million Afghan refugees to theirhomeland, there can be no guarantee of use of Pakistani soil by terroristshiding among the refugee population.
Pakistan is not emphasizing the point for the sake of gaining time but onthe basis of confirmed reports that some of the refugees are engaged innegative activities.
Therefore, there should be meaningful discussions on modus operandi oftheir return and settlement in Afghanistan. As for the drone strike, itwould serve no purpose except inflaming feelings in the country.