Pakistan army chief condemns US drone strike that killed 40 people

[News_Editor]

Pakistan army chief condemns US drone strike that killed 40 people

2011-03-18 01:50:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistan's army chief on Thursday condemned the latest strikes by U.S. unmanned drones that killed at least 40 people and wounded 15 others in North Waziristan, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

"Pakistan Army has already launched a protest in the strongest possible terms. It has been highlighted clearly that such aggression against people of Pakistan is unjustified and intolerable under any circumstances," Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, said.

Initial reports indicated that the U.S. unmanned aircraft launched six missile strikes targeting Taliban fighters in the Datta Khel area of the region, around 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) west of Miranshah and near the Afghan border. Later, media reports, including those from NBC News, said a residential area was hit where local elders were meeting.

The army chief said in a press release that it is highly regrettable that a jirga, or open-air meeting, of peaceful citizens including elders of the area was carelessly and callously targeted with complete disregard to human life, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

He added "in complete violation of human rights, such acts of violence take us away from our objective of elimination of terrorism. It is imperative to understand that this critical objective cannot be sacrificed for temporary tactical gains. Security of people of Pakistan, in any case, stands above all."

Lastly, Kayani offered his condolences to the victims' families and said that troops on ground have been ordered to render all possible assistance to them.

The United States is most active in the North Waziristan area as the region is known to be a stronghold of the Haqqani Network, which is considered one of the top terrorist organizations and threats to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

The U.S. drone campaign in Pakistan is aimed at disrupting al-Qaida and the Taliban in the border area with Afghanistan, which the United States considers to be the most dangerous place on Earth. As of Monday, U.S. drone strikes in the region this year have killed at least 80 people, many whom are believed to have been militants.

But controversy has surrounded the drone strikes as local residents and officials have blamed them for killing innocent civilians and motivating young men to join the Taliban. In addition, the Pakistani government does not support the strikes.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-18

[flying]

COLLATERAL MURDER via unmanned drones

No different than when an Apache helicopter killed Reuters cameramen

The fliers identify the men on the ground as insurgents, mistaking the cameras and equipment carried by Reuters photographer Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22, and his assistant Saeed Chmagh, 40, for guns and grenade launchers.

The helicopter opens fire, immediately killing several people and wounding others.

Minutes later, when a van arrives to assist the wounded, the fliers become concerned that the vehicle contains more militants trying to collect weapons and help survivors escape.

The Apache helicopters request permission to attack the van and wait impatiently.

Come on, let us shoot, one voice is heard to say.

The fliers get permission to shoot at the van and begin a new wave of gunfire, apparently killing several people in and around the vehicle.

Two children wounded in the van are later seen being evacuated by US ground forces as the Apache helicopters continued to circle overhead.

Well its their fault for bringing their kids into a battle, one of the fliers says.....

http://www.france24.com/en/20100406-wikileaks-iraq-video-us-military-helicopt...

Edited March 17, 2011 by flying

[Steely Dan]

Here today, drone tomorrow.

[bangkokeddy]

"Pakistan Army has already launched a protest in the strongest possible terms. It has been highlighted clearly that such aggression against people of Pakistan is unjustified and intolerable under any circumstances," Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, said.

...

The army chief said in a press release that it is highly regrettable that a jirga, or open-air meeting, of peaceful citizens including elders of the area was carelessly and callously targeted with complete disregard to human life,

And now what? A press release is the strongest possible form of protest the Pakistan army can launch?

[EnSvenskTiger]

UN calls for a No-flyzone?

Think not!

Tiger

[coma]

It is all smoke and mirrors from the Pakastani government in an attempt to appease their own people. If they were that much up in arms about it they would be patroling that border with fighter aircraft and blowing thoses drones out of they sky.

[TAWP]

Or they would just forbid the US from launching them in their airspace...

[EnSvenskTiger]

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/19/47658395.html

Revenge is on its way!

Tiger