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| Pakistan is not co-operating with US over drones, ministry insists | Pakistan is not co-operating with US over drones, ministry insists |
| (7 days later) | |
| Pakistan has rejected claims that it deliberately clears military aircraft from the skies of its border region to allow US drones to operate freely. | Pakistan has rejected claims that it deliberately clears military aircraft from the skies of its border region to allow US drones to operate freely. |
| "There can be no question of Pakistan's agreement to such attacks," the foreign ministry said in response to a report in the Wall Street Journal which claimed the US believed it regularly received consent. | "There can be no question of Pakistan's agreement to such attacks," the foreign ministry said in response to a report in the Wall Street Journal which claimed the US believed it regularly received consent. |
| According to the newspaper, the CIA sends a fax "about once a month" to the ISI, its counterpart in Pakistan, outlining the areas and targets where the unmanned aircraft will operate. | According to the newspaper, the CIA sends a fax "about once a month" to the ISI, its counterpart in Pakistan, outlining the areas and targets where the unmanned aircraft will operate. |
| The ISI has not replied to the faxes for more than a year, the newspaper said. Nonetheless, US government lawyers regard this as tacit approval, because Pakistan responds by what is called "de-conflicting" its airspace – preventing aircraft from flying in the areas concerned. | The ISI has not replied to the faxes for more than a year, the newspaper said. Nonetheless, US government lawyers regard this as tacit approval, because Pakistan responds by what is called "de-conflicting" its airspace – preventing aircraft from flying in the areas concerned. |
| A government spokesman rejected the insinuation made in the report and reiterated Pakistan's position on drone attacks: "Drone attacks are illegal, counterproductive, in contravention of international law and a violation of Pakistani sovereignty." | A government spokesman rejected the insinuation made in the report and reiterated Pakistan's position on drone attacks: "Drone attacks are illegal, counterproductive, in contravention of international law and a violation of Pakistani sovereignty." |
| Diplomats and security analysts believe Pakistan continues to give its consent for the drone strikes. | Diplomats and security analysts believe Pakistan continues to give its consent for the drone strikes. |
| Confidential diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks revealed that, in 2008, Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, asked the US for "continuous Predator [drone] coverage" in part of South Waziristan. | Confidential diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks revealed that, in 2008, Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, asked the US for "continuous Predator [drone] coverage" in part of South Waziristan. |
| In the same year, former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the US ambassador that he did not care about the US programme "as long as they get the right people". | In the same year, former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the US ambassador that he did not care about the US programme "as long as they get the right people". |
| Despite the history of co-operation with the US, drones are very unpopular in Pakistan where politicians, particularly the former cricketer Imran Khan, have gained support by lambasting what many see as the routine violation of Pakistani sovereignty. | Despite the history of co-operation with the US, drones are very unpopular in Pakistan where politicians, particularly the former cricketer Imran Khan, have gained support by lambasting what many see as the routine violation of Pakistani sovereignty. |
| Underlining the government's delicate balancing act on the issue, the foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, said on Thursday that Pakistan supported the aims of the programme. | Underlining the government's delicate balancing act on the issue, the foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, said on Thursday that Pakistan supported the aims of the programme. |
| "What the drones are trying to achieve, we may not disagree… If they're going for terrorists – we do not disagree," she said in New York. "But we have to find ways which are lawful, which are legal. The use of unilateral strikes on Pakistani territory is illegal." | "What the drones are trying to achieve, we may not disagree… If they're going for terrorists – we do not disagree," she said in New York. "But we have to find ways which are lawful, which are legal. The use of unilateral strikes on Pakistani territory is illegal." |
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