Pak Using Drone Campaign Inside Its Borders, But With A Collateral Damage
Pakistan, during a brief military clash with India, used drones to attack civilian areas - showing off their high-tech weapons. But little was it known, the country has been running a deadly drone campaign to monitor and strike terrorists within its borders for years, a report by The New York Times said. This, however, comes with its own collateral damage: civilian deaths.
While Pakistani officials have said that drone operations have become significantly more effective and precise, some reports of attacks tell a different story.
Earlier this year, the Pakistani Security Forces targeted a terrorist hideout with drones in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing an unspecified number of "high-value" terrorists. However, some civilians were also killed in the strike, with the provincial government suggesting that women and children were among the victims. Late last month, at least 20 people were injured in a suspected drone strike on a crowd watching a volleyball match in Lower South Waziristan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan.
Last month, four children were reportedly killed after a drone strike in North Waziristan. Officials blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the attack, but the political opposition condemned it as a consequence of the government's flawed security strategy, the NYT report said.
Pakistan is among the four countries that are using drones against terrorists within their borders. The other three countries are Iraq, Nigeria, and Turkey. Despite this, the country's government has not yet officially acknowledged the role of drones in its counterinsurgency, the report said.
Drone campaign goes online
The Pakistani security officials are reportedly becoming more vocal about the drone strikes online - mainly to put down the criticism.
A video that recently went viral showed armed men (with what officials said were Pakistani Taliban terrorists) trying to breach a barbed-wire perimeter at night when a drone strike hit them. Officials reportedly said that the video was recorded in 2024. Another video shows a drone strike targeting Taliban-affiliated terrorists in a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan in northwestern Pakistan.
While the videos remain unverified, many of them were posted by pro-military accounts, the NYT reported.
According to the report, the Pakistani government is backing the digital drone campaign.
US drone campaign in Pakistan
For many years, the US conducted drone strikes inside Pakistan that targeted Al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, and affiliated groups. The first known US strike took place in 2004, in which a prominent Taliban commander, Nek Muhammad, died. According to the NYT report, the George Bush administration had allowed 48 drone strikes in Pakistan, while Barack Obama authorised 353. The last recorded drone strike in the Pakistan borders by the US was in 2016, in which the chief of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, was killed.
US President Donald Trump had reportedly ordered 13 strikes in Pakistan during his first term.
However, no drone strikes by the US were reported after 2018.
Pakistan and terrorism
The Pakistani government faces one of the most severe terrorist threats in the world, with the country ranking second as the most affected by terrorism in the world. Some of the deadliest terror organisations include: the Pakistani Taliban and the Baloch Liberation Army.
Pakistan was placed on the FATF's grey list in June 2018. Countries that are considered safe havens for terror funding and money laundering are put on this list.
Pakistan was said to be lacking a comprehensive and coordinated risk-based approach in combating money laundering and terror financing - following which the FATF urged Islamabad to implement a 34-point action plan by the end of 2019. This deadline was then extended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Between 2020 to 2022, Pakistan carried out measures to its anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism laws.
In September 2022, the FATF conducted an onsite visit to Pakistan to confirm the completion of the action plan. Islamabad was removed from the list in October 2022.
India, responding to FATF's move, had said that Pakistan must continue to take credible action against terrorism.
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First Post
13 minutes ago
- First Post
An uncertain Pakistan: Munir's panic run to US and China shows his anxiety
Pakistan is making desperate efforts to keep China and the US in good humour and on the right side by a delicate balancing act; however, only time will reveal the true outcomes read more Very recently, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir was on an official visit to China. During his stay in Beijing, he held meetings with senior Chinese political and military leadership. A military statement emanating from Pakistan claimed that the Chinese military leadership reiterated full confidence in the strength of the bilateral defence partnership, acknowledging Pakistan's pivotal role in promoting 'regional peace'. General Munir called on Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Their discussions focused on the evolving regional and global political canvas, connectivity initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the need for coordinated responses to address shared geopolitical challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Significantly, both sides expressed satisfaction over the depth of bilateral engagement and avowed their shared commitment to sovereign equality, multilateral cooperation, and long-term regional stability. The Pakistan Army statement further claimed that the Chinese leadership lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces as a cornerstone of resilience and a vital contributor to peace in South Asia. This seems far-fetched and looks only like a ceremonial or ritualistic expression. The military engagement between both sides included comprehensive exchanges on defence and security cooperation, including counter-terrorism collaboration, joint training, defence modernisation, and enhanced institutional linkages. It also claimed that emphasis was placed on improving operational interoperability and strategic coordination to confront hybrid and transnational threats. On his part, the COAS appreciated China's 'consistent support' and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further expanding military-to-military cooperation across all domains. Munir at Beijing reaffirmed Islamabad's deep appreciation for Beijing's consistent support toward its socio-economic development and emphasised the Pakistani military's resolve to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with China as part of their shared vision for regional peace and prosperity. However, reliable sources indicate that the Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was under severe pressure when China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi raised the issue rather prominently of the safety and security of the Chinese 'personnel, projects, and institutions' in Pakistan. Over the years, several Chinese nationals have been killed in a string of terror attacks in Pakistan. While Munir stressed and claimed that 'brotherhood' between Beijing and Islamabad was time-tested and was 'solid as a rock', he, in the same vein, assured Yi that the Pakistani military would take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals. It may be recalled that in October 2024, a suicide car bombing outside Karachi airport had killed two Chinese engineers, and earlier, in the same year in March, a suicide bombing in northern Pakistan had killed five Chinese workers, which had angered the Chinese leadership, who had expressed serious concern over the killings of the Chinese. This had also put at risk the bilateral ties between the two countries, albeit for some time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Importantly, this was Munir's first visit to China after the hostilities with India in May this year. Islamabad is actively pursuing its military diplomacy to bolster strategic regional partnerships and defence alliances to reposition its defence standing. This was further demonstrated by Munir's visit to the US, as well as his one-on-one lunch with President Donald Trump. In a separate development related to China, the Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with the Chinese Foreign Minister, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting regional peace, stability, and development. This shows that Pakistan continues to warm up to China at regular intervals. Further, in a Pakistan military-related development, Munir on July 26 reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering resolve to foster a secure, peaceful, and prosperous regional environment through strategic cooperation and defence diplomacy. As a host, he was addressing the Regional Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Islamabad, bringing together senior military leaders from the United States, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The conference seems to represent a major step in strengthening regional security collaboration, strategic dialogue, and military partnerships. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Organised under the theme 'Strengthening Bonds, Securing Peace', the summit aimed to deepen multilateral cooperation in defence, particularly in counter-terrorism, joint training, and knowledge sharing. Participants were engaged in wide-ranging discussions on regional security trends, the changing geopolitical landscape in Central and South Asia, and the urgent need for coordinated responses to transnational threats. Welcoming the defence delegations, Munir reiterated Pakistan's firm 'commitment' to peace and regional stability. He underscored the importance of enhanced military-to-military cooperation, mutual trust, and continued strategic dialogue to address emerging hybrid 'threats' and ensure collective security. Analysing the conference, it could be safely interpreted that Munir, with his political and military ambitions, possibly wants to forge an alliance with the Islamic countries' military leadership in the name of regional peace. He could also be meaning to signal India, his sworn adversary, about his 'deepening military cooperation' with the CIS countries. Munir should know that India already enjoys an excellent relationship with these countries that have participated in the conference, and no amount of signalling is likely to work towards his military designs. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Having stepped up its diplomatic outreach, especially post Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 25. Earlier, the Deputy Prime Minister arrived in Washington, DC, on July 24 on the second leg of his eight-day visit to the US. He had arrived in New York on July 21 to attend 'high-level signature events' of Pakistan's United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Presidency, including a conference on Palestine. Discussions were also held on promoting bilateral trade and economic relations and cooperation in important sectors, including investment, agriculture, technology [and] minerals. Counter-terrorism and regional peace were also discussed. Foreign Minister Dar acknowledged the efforts of President Donald Trump and the US leadership in promoting global peace, adding that their role and efforts regarding the recent Pakistan-India tension were 'commendable'. Meanwhile, at the US State Department, Marco Rubio expressed appreciation for Pakistan's continued willingness to play a constructive role in mediating conversations with Iran and its commitment to preserving regional stability. The two also discussed prospects for deepening bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation, including countering Islamic State—Khorasan (Isis—K), and the upcoming US-Pakistan Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Islamabad scheduled in August this year. Rubio underscored the importance of expanding mutually beneficial bilateral trade and exploring prospects for enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals and mining sectors. Dar was also scheduled to speak at the US think tank, the Atlantic Council, sharing Pakistan's perspective on regional and global issues as well as the future of Pakistan-US relations. Dar's visit comes ahead of Pakistan holding the presidency of the UN Security Council this month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Judging by the Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister's US trip and earlier Munir's recent China visit, both much hyped, it is clear that Pakistan is making desperate efforts to keep China and the US in good humour and on the right side by a delicate balancing act, as both the US and China are at loggerheads, but the US needs Pakistan as a strategic ally. [It may be recapitulated that Munir was in the US, including a meeting with Trump, just ahead of the US military strikes at the Iran nuclear sites using the Pakistani skies.] Such US overtures to Pakistan could possibly be cosmetic, more tactical, and not really substantial or meaningful. Only time will tell about their 'relationship' and its tenacity. The writer is a retired IPS officer, adviser NatStrat, Bangladesh watcher and a security analyst. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan's army chief is cosying up to Donald Trump
Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, could hardly have wished for more. For almost two years, he had been under fire at home over his meddling in politics. Wracked by debt and insurgent violence, his country had been sidelined in geopolitics as America and other rich countries courted India, Pakistan's arch-rival. And yet there he was, enjoying a private lunch with Donald Trump in the White House on June 18th, just over a month after Pakistan's brief conflict with India. Then, at the end of July, came further snubs for India: branding it a 'dead economy', Mr Trump imposed tariffs of 25% while hailing a new trade deal with Pakistan. The Field Marshal's fortunes reflect a shift in American policy that affects India, China and the Middle East. America's close ties to Pakistan deteriorated after American forces killed Osama bin Laden in his Pakistani hideout in 2011. America then lost interest after leaving Afghanistan a decade later. But to India's dismay, America and Pakistan are now rebuilding ties with a focus on trade, counter-terrorism and consultation on Middle Eastern policy. America may even sell arms again to Pakistan (it currently gets around four-fifths of them from China). Pakistan's politics may be at a turning point, too. There is still broad public support for Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister (and one-time cricketer) who was barred from parliamentary polls in 2024. Even so, Field Marshal Munir's popularity has surged since the conflict with India. And the military-backed civilian government now has the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed to alter the constitution (after a controversial re-allocation of seats). That has ignited rumours that the army chief could become president too, opening a fourth period of military rule since independence in 1947. The future of the world's second-largest Muslim country and its relations with America, India and China thus depends increasingly on one question: what exactly does Field Marshal Munir want? The man himself declined an interview request (as he has done for all media since his appointment in 2022). But Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan's military spokesman, tells The Economist that talk of his boss becoming president is 'nonsense'. He also challenges the idea that the Field Marshal is more ideological than recent predecessors. Unlike most of them, the Field Marshal is the son of an imam. He was educated in a madrasa and can recite the Koran by heart. He is also the first Pakistani army chief not to have trained in America or Britain. Yet General Chaudhry argues that the army chief is 'well versed' with the West and resolutely opposed to Jihadist groups operating on Pakistani soil (one of which India blames for the terrorist attack that triggered the recent conflict). Among his troops, the army chief often voices distaste for mullahs who have 'made religion a business,' General Chaudhry says. On India, however, the military spokesman says the Field Marshal's personal views were reflected in a speech on April 16th, six days before the attack in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir. Some suggest the Field Marshal was improvising when he invoked the idea that Hindus and Muslims could not co-exist in one nation, and described Kashmir as India's 'jugular vein'. Pakistan denies involvement in the Kashmir attack. But in that speech, the military spokesman suggests his boss was articulating 'what he stands for, what he is ready to die for', partly as a response to the rise of Hindu nationalism in India. Others who have regularly met the army chief describe him as both pious and pragmatic, with a keen interest in the economy. Though he prays five times daily, says one, he does not 'apply spirituality to statecraft'. He admires the modernisation drive of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. Like MBS, he can be vindictive and has a temper, especially when talking about Mr Khan, who (as prime minister) sacked him as intelligence chief. And his appetite for risk is greater than that of his predecessor, who favoured quiet (and ultimately fruitless) diplomacy with India. Even some critics credit the Field Marshal with resisting foreign pressure not to respond to India's initial air strikes. But his ultimate political ambitions are uncertain. Some predict he could grab the presidency soon to capitalise on his domestic popularity and Mr Trump's fondness for strongmen. That would institutionalise his authority (foreign and business leaders already try to deal with him directly on many matters). It would also offset the risk that a less pliant civilian leadership might replace him as army chief when his current term expires in 2027. Critics cite his promotion to Field Marshal in May, comparing him to Ayub Khan, Pakistan's first dictator and only other officer of that rank. Pakistan is not under martial law but 'Asim law', Mr Khan, the ex-prime minister, said in a statement from prison on July 24th. The counter-argument is that the current 'hybrid' leadership works in the Field Marshal's favour. Aged just 57, he is the most powerful army chief since Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999. He has a co-operative and able prime minister and, if the current political compact endures, he can remain as army chief indefinitely (there is no term limit or mandatory retirement age). He and civilian leaders also share an interest in suppressing Mr Khan's supporters (dozens of whom have recently been jailed, including 108 on July 31st alone) before parliamentary polls due by 2029. A more overt power grab might fuel support for Mr Khan, including in the armed forces. Either way, the Field Marshal would probably still enjoy America's backing. He recently earned its praise for killing and capturing leaders of a local offshoot of Islamic State. He has sparked interest from Trump associates in Pakistan's crypto and mining sectors. And he has positioned Pakistan as a potential means to advance America's interests with Iran and its efforts to get more Muslim countries to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. In return, America has toned down criticism of Pakistan's programme to build longer-range ballistic missiles, which officials from Joe Biden's administration considered a threat to America. It has resumed some aid programmes. It is also considering selling weaponry, including armoured vehicles and night-vision goggles, to help Pakistan combat local insurgents. And American officials are examining Pakistan's evidence to support its claims that India backs those insurgencies, although they are unconvinced so far. The Field Marshal's aim is to build a more sustainable, multi-faceted relationship with America. There is potential for progress. It is, however, a high-wire act. The prospects for economic co-operation are uncertain given Pakistan's poor investment climate. Mutual distrust hampers efforts to combat terrorism. And while Pakistani officials suggest that closer ties with America will not come at China's cost, the Chinese leadership may disagree. Then there is India. Field Marshal Munir wants to bring it to the negotiating table. Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, is determined to resist and has vowed to respond to any more terrorist attacks with further military action. Asked how Pakistan would react to that, its military spokesman says it would begin by striking deeper within India. 'We'll start from the east,' he says. 'They also need to understand that they can be hit everywhere.' The Field Marshal's grip on power may have increased since May. But so too have the risks of a bigger clash between South Asia's nuclear strongmen.
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Kulgam encounter enters Day 4 as security forces battle terrorists in dense forests
Srinagar, Aug 4 (UNI) The anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district entered its fourth day today, with intermittent exchanges of fire and explosions continuing through the night in the dense Akhal Khulsan forest area. So far, two terrorists have been killed, and three soldiers injured in the ongoing operation. Officials said one of the slain terrorists is believed to be a local. The encounter which began on August 1 evening after security forces received credible intelligence inputs about the presence of four to five terrorists in the Akhal forest belt. The operation triggered a fierce exchange of fire, which has continued with varying intensity over the past 72 hours. The operation is being carried out jointly by the Army's elite Special Forces, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police, with support from Rudra attack helicopters and surveillance drones, relentlessly combing the area to flush out the hiding militants. The dense and rugged terrain has made the search effort especially challenging, officials said. The area remains under a tight cordon to prevent the remaining militants from escaping. Senior security officials are on the ground, closely monitoring the situation. "When the operation was launched on Friday, initial contact was established, leading to a fierce gunfight. While two terrorists have been neutralized, more are still holed up in the area," a security official said. This is the second major encounter in Kashmir within a week. On July 28 security forces eliminated three Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in an encounter in the Harwan-Dachigam forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar. A day later Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Parliament that the three terrorists were responsible for the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, where 25 tourists and a local pony rider were killed . UNI MJR AAB
