In June, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, said,”there have been secondary drone strikes on rescuers who are helping (the injured) after an initial drone attack, those further attacks are a war crime.” There is no doubt that there have been.
Pakistan FM: “We Agree With Drone Strike Aims“
‘Unilateral Strikes’ Remain Illegal, Khar Insists
In what is the closest thing to a response to US drone strike defenses that we’re ever liable to see from the current Pakistani government, Foreign Minister Hina Kharinsisted today that she “accepts” the US government’s reasons for the strikes, and is fine with the aims of the programs.
“If they’re going for terrorists – we do not disagree,” Khar added, though she did say that Pakistan continues to consider the strikes “illegal and unlawful” and is not accomplishing its overall goals.
This half-hearted criticism, with all its qualifications, is liable to add to the Obama Administration’s belief that even if they won’t admit it publicly, they have the “tacit consent” of the Pakistani government.
Since Obama took office, US drone strikes have killed thousands in Pakistan, with only a few dozen ever positively identified one way or another. The US claims to have sent faxes to Pakistan detailing their intention to strike certain regions, but never heard back, saying that they assume this meant Pakistan was okay with it.
