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THE US WAR ON TERROR AND THE DRONE ATTACKS IN FATA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The 9/11 incident in USA has changed the entire global political framework. World Trade Centre (WTC) was regarded the hub of the corporate and capitalist world. The attack on WTC was taken as attack on the heart of the system and USA was joined by all countries of the ‘free world’ to avenge the attacks. Within three hours of the attack on WTC, President Bush declared that Al-Qaeda was responsible for the attacks and Afghanistan was attacked on 7 October 2001. The US war on terror took a new turn when US initiated drone strikes in FATA, Pakistan. There arose a long debate in Pakistani media, academics and parliament whether US drone strikes are approved by the Pakistani State or otherwise. Pakistani State managers have declined its approval and at initial stage the Pakistan government declared that such attacks have been carried out by Pakistan itself but later on it was revealed that the Pakistan government claim was absolutely wrong. The Drone Strikes have generated a serious legal debate across the globe and it has been discussed from various aspects. However, it is clear that drone strikes can not be carried out without the approval of the state concerned. It is proved from another fact that drones do not have any self defense system and it can be shot down by the weakest air force. There is a major diversity of opinion between Pakistan state and society on the issue of drone attacks. The state has approved the drone strike while majority in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are opposed to the drone strikes. However, majority of the FATA people, though do not like drone strikes but prefer it if the alternate is military operation by the Pakistan Army.

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