Drone attacks could not take place without Pakistan’s approval: US Congressman

Eurasia News

WASHINGTON: The United States could end drone strikes in Pakistan tomorrow if the country wanted and that no such attacks take place without the approval of Pakistan, US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee member Congressman Alan Grayson said, Dispatch News Desk reported.

In an interview with a UK-based news channel, Grayson said no evidence from the administration of President Barack Obama he had received which would suggest that there would be a drop in drone strikes carried out in Pakistan by the end of this year.

Grayson said Pakistan’s military was capable of tackling insurgency in the country as its strength was more than a million whereas numbers of militants hardly run into hundreds.

“If they (Pakistan’s military) wanted, they could control the situation and ease the lives of thousands of citizens.”

The Democrat Congressman said if Pakistan had asked US to stop drone strikes on its territory, there would be an end to drone attacks.

Moreover, he was of the view that heirs of the innocent victims of drone attacks should receive compensation from the US.