Bringing an End to Terrorist and Drone Attacks
By Air Marshal Ayaz Ahmed Khan
Los Angeles, CA
The US drones firing Hellfire homing missiles into FATA villages have taken a heavy toll of terrorist lives. The immense collateral damage in life and property should be accounted and compensated for by the American government. After the December 2009 Taliban attack on the CIA base at Khost, which killed seven CIA officials and one Jordanian Army Major, the CIA-led Hellfire Drone offensive has been intensified with a vengeance.
Hussein Yemeni, an Al Qaeda bomb expert and trainer, is believed to have been among more than a dozen people killed in the recent drone strike in Miranshah, the largest town in North Waziristan. Yemeni and Hakimullah Mehsud, leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban, are thought to have had a major role in the Dec. 30 suicide bombing in Khost Afghanistan that killed the CIA employees and contractors and the Jordanian intelligence officer.
US-CIA intelligence officials had vowed to track down the perpetrators of the attack and appeared elated on getting confirmation of Yemeni's death in the escalating CIA Predator aircraft strikes. Hakimullah Mehsud was also killed in an earlier attack.
A CIA counter-terrorism official described the Miranshah strike as a "clean, precise action that shows these killers cannot hide even in relatively built-up places." But he said nothing about the death and injuries sustained by women and children in such attacks. The exact role Yemeni played in the attack on the CIA base at Khost was unclear, but US officials said his specialty was in building bombs and planning suicide operations. The precise intelligence about the presence of Al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists in FATA villages, and accuracy of drone attacks, is impressive. It appears that CIA is being kept informed by spies and informers, who have penetrated Taliban ranks.
Drone strikes have killed thousands of militants since 2006. According to the North America Foundation website that tracks drone attacks, 211 people were killed by Hellfire bombings in Pakistan tribal territory during the last three months. In 2009, Hellfire missiles fired by Predator drones caused 632 deaths. While CIA is gloating over enhanced killings, claiming that the attacks are putting a lgreat deal of pressure on Al Qaeda, the protests of the government of Pakistan, politicians, media and even General Kiyani have been rudely disregarded by American leaders.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Commander in Chief of US Central Command General Praeteus and Chairman US Joint Chief’s Committee Admiral Mullen have said that the drone attacks have been approved by Pakistani authorities. The inference is that realizing that the US drone attacks are killing Al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists, and eliminating militant insurgents, it is in the interest of Pakistan’s national security that the drone attacks be continued. The PPP government is faced with a dilemma: security benefit from the Predator attacks on the one hand and loss of innocent lives in the collateral damage and violation of Pakistani airspace and national sovereignty on the other. Only spineless rulers could wink at a foreign power to keep bombing Pakistani territory unabated!
The stepped-up drone campaign began in the last year of the Bush administration when the US stopped notifying Pakistani officials before the attacks. The US administration has intensified the drone strikes, though US officials refuse to comment publicly on them. Officials who reported Yemeni's death did so anonymously.
“Yemeni was among the top two dozen most-wanted Al Qaeda operatives. Originally from Yemen, the militant was in his early 30s. Yemini was imprisoned in Yemen between 2005 and 2007 and made his way to Pakistan after his release. In Pakistan, Yemeni established himself as a conduit for Arab funds, messages and Arab recruits.
His death had been rumored for days after reports began appearing on militant websites that he was among those killed in the March 8 Miranshah strike. Yemeni had established contacts with groups outside Pakistan, including the Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is believed responsible for unleashing a campaign of attacks in Yemen and Saudi Arabia in recent years.
The story of Al-Qaeda- Taliban suicide bombings and terrorist attacks in Pakistan is blood drenched. Thousands of Pakistani citizens, including military men, policemen, women and children have been killed by the terrorists. The Pakistani nation and the government are not prepared to forgive the savage killers, whose appetite for Pakistani blood is unabated. They claim to fight foreign occupation of Afghanistan, but have killed Benazir Bhutto who had promised to alleviate the poverty and suffering of the tribesmen. The cycle of revenge and vendetta attacks by CIA is not the solution of the terrorist problem.
The Taliban terrorists have been defeated in Malakand, Swat, Bajaur, Waziristan and are being bombed by Pakistan Air Force fighter jets and Cobra gunship helicopters in North Waziristan, Khurrum, and Orakzai Agencies, as well as US Predator drones. With most Taliban and Al-Qaeda leaders killed and arrested and on the run the writing on the wall is clear. The Pakistan Army has already declared victory over the Taliban, and civil authorities have been asked to take over the administration in all the above agencies. The sporadic terrorist attacks have created intense hatred for the Taliban and militant renegades. Tribal Lashkars have been formed to kill the killers. The days of the remnants of Taliban engaged in hit and run attacks are numbered. It is time that the provincial governments demand that the Taliban terrorists surrender and lay down their arms. But the militants used to attacks, bombings and killings, are not likely to surrender without incentives. The following incentives be offered:
General amnesty for all militant terrorists, except those involved in suicide bombings, killings and heinous crimes may be granted by the provincial governments, subject to surrender and disclosure of weapons.
Militants and others surrendering their arms be given compensation in cash and kind. Rs 25000 be given for an automatic weapon, and rate of compensation for handing over stocks of ammunition to the authorities be fixed.
All terrorists and militants whose families have been killed during military operations or drone attacks be compensated. US, UN and NATO countries be asked to share the payments.
All injured terrorists and their families be provided medical treatment at government expense. Maimed terrorists and maimed tribal family members be compensated.
All properties destroyed and businesses lost be compensated.
Militants and terrorists be brought on board into the economic activities, like grants and loans for starting new occupations like trucking and taxis, after they have surrendered.
All cleris engaged in brainwashing and misleading tribal youths be given incentives by the Ministries of Religious Affairs for re-education. Their help be sought for the reconstruction and repair of destroyed schools.
For the psychological rehabilitation of the terrorists and deranged clerics, psychiatrist assistance and advice will be necessary.
Mullahs need to appeal to the terrorists to surrender, and accept government offers and incentives.
Fullest and unequivocal promise and assurance be obtained from the Obama Administration that Predator Drone attacks would stop as soon as the militant terrorists surrender and the government announces amnesty.
