C.I.A Drone Attacks In Pakistan To Curb Taliban

By ETHAN Markoff

PAKISTAN NEWS - C.I.A has rapidly increased drone attacks in Pakistan to thwart Taliban. According to American officials, C.I.A has drastically increased its bombing campaign in the mountainous terrain of Pakistan. The campaign is aimed to cripple the Taliban stronghold in the region, Talibans are main rival of American soldiers in Afghanistan and plan attack against U.S troops.

The C.I.A has begun its bombing campaigns as a covert war where it attacks with armed drone aircraft. In a single month it has launched 20 attacks and made strategic plan to cripple the terrorist’s plots from militant based in Pakistan.

The increasing air strikes reflect the frustration of Afghanistan and U.S on Pakistan government less aggressive move to thwart the militants from the country's western mountains. The U.S officials have alleged Pakistan to neglect military operations inside North Waziristan, which is considered as a stronghold of Taliban militants.

Besides C.I.A air strikes, the area is continuously bombarded with U.S helicopters air strikes that estimated killed at least 50 militants in the region. The militant group called Haqqani network believed to attack against American troops was targeted by the U.S air strikes.

However, Pakistan strongly criticized the helicopter attacks, arguing that it against NATO’s mandate, which says the military action, must not reach beyond the Afghanistan border.

Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Afghanistan recently warned Pakistani commanders they would launch ground operations in Pakistan tribal areas if Pakistan didn’t take a constructive action against militants.

“Petraeus wants to turn up the heat on the safe havens,” said one senior administration official, explaining the sharp increase in drone strikes. “He has pointed out to the Pakistanis that they could do more.”


Pakistani officials have angrily criticized the helicopter attacks, saying that NATO’s mandate in Afghanistan does not extend across the border in Pakistan.

As evidence of the growing frustration of American officials, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Afghanistan, has recently issued veiled warnings to top Pakistani commanders that the United States could launch unilateral ground operations in the tribal areas should Pakistan refuse to dismantle the militant networks in North Waziristan, according to American officials.

“Petraeus wants to turn up the heat on the safe havens,” said one senior administration official, explaining the sharp increase in drone strikes. “He has pointed out to the Pakistanis that they could do more.”

It is feared that escalating air strikes by C.I.A could stimulate the resentment in Muslim world against Americans. A recent attempt to detonate a truck filled with explosive in Times Square was an implication of C.I.A bombing campaign.