Pakistan to get US drone technology soon

[Talal]

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...9-3-2010_pg7_1

LAHORE: Pakistan will soon hear “good news” about acquiring the US drone technology as significant progress was made on the issue during the visit of the country’s political and military leadership to America, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Sunday.

Talking to journalists on his arrival after concluding his visit to the US at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, he said Pakistani political and military leaders had successfully pleaded the country’s case after doing extensive research regarding Islamabad’s national priorities, adding that the Americans did not present any new demands during
the talks.

“On every matter, the US response was much better than we had anticipated,” he said.

Qureshi said the US has hinted about the provision of a multi-layer security system for the country and that both delegations discussed the current economic situation in Pakistan, adding that Islamabad had requested easy-debt returning conditions for the country.

To a question about whether he had also discussed the matter of a civil nuclear deal with the US, he said that discussing “some matters are against national dignity”.

The foreign minister said that both the civilian and military leadership had presented Pakistan’s point of view with “one voice”.

Promise: He said the US had promised to reconsider its policy of screening Pakistani travellers at US airports. He said that a meeting between Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and an American think tank was “extremely successful”.

“Pakistan has talked about ‘trade not aid’ with the US and we have agreed on some things regarding the energy sector,” the foreign minister said.

Qureshi said the dialogue process would continue and its next phase would start in April, adding that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit Pakistan after the completion of the second phase of the dialogue.

“Several US delegations will also visit Pakistan for mutual cooperation in various fields,” the foreign minister said, adding that after Hillary’s visit, he would again go to the US for further developments, APP reported. staff report/app

[tor_khan]

I think you're after a position with the Pakistan military's PR wing - right?

[Master Khan]

Wow All I am hearing is good news all the time

[Talal]

I think you're after a position with the Pakistan military's PR wing - right?

Id say that other than myself there are some other pakistanis on this forum too, if you dont want to read the news..the headline should have been enough. This briefing was the end result of high level talks between US and Pakistan, and these talks managed to pull of a lot in regards to Pakistans growing needs. They were very important not just in terms of defence cooperation, but also the "free trade" economic package that was given to Pakistan is something Pakistan needed direly, and not to mention US willing to take Pakistan off the screening list at US airports will allow Pakistanis to travel without being ridiculed at every airport, more importantly its the signal that it sends to the world about the changing image of Pakistan that will help bring stability to this country

Does this sound like a PR campaign to you ? or maybe you just feel bitter ?

[tor_khan]

Id say that other than myself there are some other pakistanis on this forum too, if you dont want to read the news..the headline should have been enough. This briefing was the end result of high level talks between US and Pakistan, and these talks managed to pull of a lot in regards to Pakistans growing needs. They were very important not just in terms of defence cooperation, but also the "free trade" economic package that was given to Pakistan is something Pakistan needed direly, and not to mention US willing to take Pakistan off the screening list at US airports will allow Pakistanis to travel without being ridiculed at every airport, more importantly its the signal that it sends to the world about the changing image of Pakistan that will help bring stability to this country

Does this sound like a PR campaign to you ? or maybe you just feel bitter ?

My thoughts are twofold:

1. Pakistan and the US, whilst appearing to be sharing a symbiotic relationship, are not equals. Ultimately Pakistan will do the US's bidding.

2. And there-in the second point. What will Pakistan use the drones for, if not to run sorties over Pashtoon territories and in the process kill, destroy and attempt to humiliate Pashtoons further?

[Talal]

My thoughts are twofold:

1. Pakistan and the US, whilst appearing to be sharing a symbiotic relationship, are not equals. Ultimately Pakistan will do the US's bidding.

2. And there-in the second point. What will Pakistan use the drones for, if not to run sorties over Pashtoon territories and in the process kill, destroy and attempt to humiliate Pashtoons further?

1. for now yes that is the sad truth, pakistani government will always be a stooge to the americans as long as we have corrupt leaders.

2. tor_khan i think your mistaken here, this isn't something new for Pakistan..pakistan already has drones and has a indigenous drone program, although its at the beggining stage its mature enough to tackle the threat. Contrary to the popular perception that drones cause more civilian casualties, the ground reality is that drones are the most effective weapons to tackle terrorism. Why ? as i said earlier drones provide round the clock intel and if lets say a terrorist hide-out is detected they have the capability to take it out right away, so the response time is increased, there is no room for the terrorists to leave or mingle within the population which wouldnt be the case if your using gunships because the reponse time is great enough to allow terrorists to escape. So you see the effectiveness of drones ?

And moreover, pakistan is just usin UAV's for surveilance UCAV's are only used as a last ditch effort

[tor_khan]

1. for now yes that is the sad truth, pakistani government will always be a stooge to the americans as long as we have corrupt leaders.

2. tor_khan i think your mistaken here, this isn't something new for Pakistan..pakistan already has drones and has a indigenous drone program, although its at the beggining stage its mature enough to tackle the threat. Contrary to the popular perception that drones cause more civilian casualties, the ground reality is that drones are the most effective weapons to tackle terrorism. Why ? as i said earlier drones provide round the clock intel and if lets say a terrorist hide-out is detected they have the capability to take it out right away, so the response time is increased, there is no room for the terrorists to leave or mingle within the population which wouldnt be the case if your using gunships because the reponse time is great enough to allow terrorists to escape. So you see the effectiveness of drones ?

And moreover, pakistan is just usin UAV's for surveilance UCAV's are only used as a last ditch effort

As of the end of year 2009, over 700 innocent civilians were killed by drones. You detach yourself from the ground reality here and in the process to me this appears to condone the "expendable" nature of Pashtoon life - consider approaches for dealing with terrorism.

Terrorists have infiltrated the cities and towns throughout Pakistan. Imagine using drones in those areas. It's unlikely to happen because of the fallout. You see, Pashtoons on the fringes, don't matter to the Americans or the Pakistani leadership.

Of course this is about racial make-up of the surrounding areas, as well as power politics. I couldn't imagine terrorists in Kashmir or the Panjab being handled in the same way.

[Talal]

As of the end of year 2009, over 700 innocent civilians were killed by drones. You detach yourself from the ground reality here and in the process to me this appears to condone the "expendable" nature of Pashtoon life - consider approaches for dealing with terrorism.

Terrorists have infiltrated the cities and towns throughout Pakistan. Imagine using drones in those areas. It's unlikely to happen because of the fallout. You see, Pashtoons on the fringes, don't matter to the Americans or the Pakistani leadership.

Of course this is about racial make-up of the surrounding areas, as well as power politics. I couldn't imagine terrorists in Kashmir or the Panjab being handled in the same way.

there is little i can do or will say that will change your mind. Your mind like many others is set on the fact that punjabis are the ultimate of demons and consider there pashtun brethren as "expandable". But whatever, the issues were drones here.

The argument here is which would cause more damage a drone or a barrage of gunships ? the answer should be pretty clear with a drone you can monitor and destroy the targets simultaneously..The drones are much more quieter, have a much bigger loitering time and especially prove very effective in night-time survielance. Using fighter jet or gunships would cause even more damage, you would have more casualities not to mention by the time the jets arrive it is a great possibility that the terrorists could have mobilized. Pakistan has lost 40000 people to this war soldiers and civilians alike, but we know that if we let them go today 40000 more will die tommorrow. Also Pakistan primarily uses drones only for surveilance and to collect intelligence, if its a very high priority target only then the UCAV are brought in