Shouldn’t we wake up?

Yesterday, Wednesday 15^th September, 2010 I have read in morning under latest news in Dawn that 14 militants have been killed by US drone attacks. The details are that early at dawn time volley of guns were fired targeting the unwanted anti human believed to be present in the village Dargah Mandi at the outskirts of volatile town of Miranshah.

This is neither the first time that Americans have entered into our territory and killed so many in just one go nor it can be the last time that they have attacked, rather more correctly, it was one of the attacks which has been planned years ago and the same will be launched at our territory for decades and not just years. The news further said that over 1,070 have been killed in more than 125 drone attacks for the period from August 2008 till now meaning by that on average 44 persons are being killed each month which is not a small figure in any case from any angle and perspective. The Dawn newspaper further said that 75 militants have been killed in the tribal belt since 3^rd September which itself proves that our fatalities have increased manifold in the month as compared to monthly average figures. But what could be the reason and or rationale, if at all any, for such am excessive deaths in just 15 days and really I wonder what could be the figure for month when still 15 days are left to complete the month.

How do we count drone attacks could be quite an interesting question? If one drone, for instance, comes alone and attacks for 5 times with 20 minutes gap in between then do we count it as one attack or 5 attacks? In another situation 3 drones come individually but attack at the same time though 3 different targets then will we count them as 1 attack or 3 attacks? Now 3 drones come together and fire the same target simultaneously so is it construed to be 1 attack or 3 attacks? In yet other situation 3 drones take part in bombardment but they come after 25 minutes gap in between so are we going to count it as 1 attack or 3 attacks or 9 attacks? I simply cannot work out how do our officials tabulate drone attacks but yet it can very safely and judiciously be said that actual attacks are much more than what has been officially reported so far.

Coming to the figures of fatalities from drone attacks, there is very strong possibility that the figures so far quoted are just rough estimates or wild guess. Generally, it has been observed that in almost all the countries the figures either of attack or deaths are not reported in exact numbers rather lower figures are given so from that point of view there should not be any doubt about undermining our these figures too. Moreover, as and when there is an attack, some people are definitely injured either seriously or slightly but very much surprisingly in the news there is no mention about the injured ones except deaths. Should it be believed, even for academic purpose if not otherwise, that from day one till today not a single person has been injured in all these attacks? No, never ever, it is simply next to impossible that in drone none is injured rather the ground reality is that each time some are injured and the figures vary from an incident to incident.  Some of the injured do fully recover from their wounds but there are those too who either eventually die or become incapacitated. Did anyone count how may have died at later stage or how many able bodied have turned to be parasites, incapacitated?

How does a drone, even if American, differentiate between a terrorist and an ordinary innocent person when the two have same body features-one head, two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth, two hands and two legs? Appearance wise each human is not much different than other human beings so from that point of view a male terrorist or even female terrorist will resemble with an ordinary male or female. Does a terrorist give bad smell which can be sniffed and picked up by a drone to pounce upon? May be he walks on head or hands and hence very easily knocked down by a drone. The more I think, the more perplexed I am to reach to the depth to understand the mechanism as to how drones can distinguish between the two types of people particularly when our police, army and intelligence agencies failed to differentiate between them?

In crux, isn’t it a direct and blunt blow to our sovereignty? Isn’t it both immoral and criminal to kill innocent people? Will we still welcome drone attacks; I dare ask you if not the leaders?