ISLAMABAD: The American government secret cables leaked by the WikiLeaks have revealed that Pakistan's military brass had requested the US for greater drone back-up for its own military operations in the country's restive tribal regions, according to a report published in the Dawn newspaper.
Earlier, WikiLeaks had exposed that Pakistan's civilian leadership had tacitly agreed to the US drone strikes in the tribal areas but told the American officials that they will publicly condemn such attacks. The latest findings about the military leadership that they wanted the US drones support for their offensives in the tribal belt will add to public displeasure against the generals. Pakistan's military had been reeling under pressure in the wake of Osama bin Laden's killing in a unilateral US raid on May 2.
"In a meeting on January 22, 2008 with US CENTCOM commander Admiral William J Fallon, Army Chief General Ashfaq Kiyani requested the Americans to provide "continuous Predator coverage of the conflict area" in South Waziristan where the army was conducting operations against militants," stated a secret cable sent by then US Ambassador Anne Patterson on February 11, 2008.
"During talks with General Kiyani, the US chairman joint chiefs of staff Admiral Mike Mullen asked him for help "in approving a third restricted operating zone for US unmanned aircrafts over the tribal areas," a cable sent from the US embassy in Islamabad on March 24 stated. It meant that Pakistan had earlier agreed for US drone operations in two restricted zones. However, the military has consistently denied any involvement in the CIA-driven covert programme.
In a cable dated February 19, 2009, ambassador Patterson sent agenda points to the US, a week before Kiyani's visit to Washington. She wrote: "Kiyani knows well that the strikes have been precise (creating few civilian casualties) and targeted primarily at foreign fighters in the North and South Waziristan tribal regions."
In yet another previously unpublished cable dated May 26, 2009 details President Zardari's meeting on May 25 with an American delegation led by senator Patrick Leahy. "Referring to a recent drone strike in the tribal area that killed 60 militants," wrote ambassador Patterson in her report, "Zardari reported that his military aide believed a Pakistani operation to take out this site would have resulted in the deaths of over 60 Pakistani soldiers."
Drone attacks are extremely unpopular in Pakistan. Pakistan's Parliament has recently passed a unanimous resolution asking for end to drone strikes. It said that if the US continued with their covert operations, Pakistan would block the transit route for US lead Nato and ISAF troops in Afghanistan. However, several drone strikes occurred after the parliament adopted a non-binding resolution.
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