US drone strikes in Pak declined by 50% in 2011 as compared to 2010

Peshawar, Jan 5(ANI): Drone strikes in Pakistan have dropped by almost 50 percent from 118 in 2010 to 67 in 2011, a new analysis by the Express Tribune has shown.

Former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) security secretary Brigadier Mehmood Shah pointed out that three factors led to the decline in number of drone strikes- the Raymond Davis issue, the US Navy Seals raid killing former AlQaeda chief Osama Bin Laden on May 2 and the November 26 NATO airstrike, which had killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

"As US intentions in Afghanistan become clearer with withdrawal nearing, the pressure on Pakistan is reduced," The Express Tribune quoted him, as saying.

A retired army officer, Colonel (retd) Khalid Munir said increasing coverage questioning the legality of these strikes and lawsuits filed by drone strikes victims' families may have also led to the decline.

"These legal issues might seem small at the moment, but I think they will have a great impact in the future," he said.

According to analysts, the US' 'war on terror' in Pakistan is directly linked to the security situation in Afghanistan.

But former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Khalid Aziz said drone strikes cannot end by merely withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

"There needs to be a change in the mindset, we are not at peace with anyone, but fighting against the universe," he said. (ANI)