You just can’t make this up. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned yesterday’s drone strike by the US that killed Hakeemullah Mehsud, the emir of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan. The full statement is reproduced below:
The Government of Pakistan strongly condemns the US drone strike that took place in North Waziristan on Friday evening, 01 November 2013. These strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is an across the board consensus in Pakistan that these drone strikes must end.
The Government of Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human rights and humanitarian implications. Such strikes also set dangerous precedents in the inter-state relations.
These drone strikes have a negative impact on the mutual desire of both countries to forge a cordial and cooperative relationship and to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Keep in mind that as the leader of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan for four years, Hakeemullah engineered the deaths of thousands of Pakistani civilians, soldiers, and policemen. Taliban fighters under his command have launched suicide attacks and assaults in mosques, shrines, hospitals, markets, hotels, police stations, and military bases.
But in the end, the Pakistani government’s outrage is unsurprising. Hakeemullah’s death will no doubt sabotage peace talks. For years, the military and the government have been keen on negotiating with the Taliban, despite the horrific attacks carried out by the group and the brutal rule that is enforced once areas fall under control of the jihadist outfit.
Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
7 Comments
The picture didn’t come through.
I assume you meant this one — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME
Are you surprised? This coming from the country that has currently jailed the doctor who set up the immunization ruse that helped determine it was bin laden in the abbottabad compound.
I think I mentioned this before – The ISI, who effectively rule Pakistan, not the Nawaz Sharif government, need the Taliban, for their use against neighbouring countries. Even if the Taliban kill Pakistani civilians or soldiers, the ISI will still need them. The ISI treat the deaths of Pakistani soldiers and civilians by the Taliban as collateral damage. After all it is the ISI who created these terrorist groups. It’s a bit like a bad parent having bad children doing horrible things and not bothering to control or discipline them.
Boo-freakin’-hoo, Pakistan! That country never was a friend of the U.S. With their hands out, we drop billions into their palms, a sizable chunk going to the Taliban and other terrorist pant-loads! We need to wake the hell up!
Pakistan condemning killing of a terrorist is anything but shocking. Terror groups are Pak’s strategic assets as important as nuclear weapons.
Where else but in the policies of the Governments of Israel and the US could there be people that actually say that periodically killing off the leadership of the organized opposition will work to shorten war?
Seeedee- Its an armed conflict not a political party we are fighting here. I know cowards in Pakistan would prefer to keeping getting beat down by the maniacs but that’s not how a proud nation like the USA or Israel operates