Pakistan Seeks More U.S. Military Aid

The Washington Post ^ | Thursday, July 23, 2009 | The Washington Post

[MyTwoCopperCoins]

Prime Minister Gillani Petitions Envoy for Drone Technology, Real-Time Data

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 22 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on Wednesday called on the United States to provide real-time intelligence, unmanned aircraft technology and other military assistance to help his country combat the Taliban without relying on attacks from U.S. drones.

Gillani raised the issue with Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, who is on his fourth visit here since becoming the U.S. envoy to the region, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. Pakistan has asked before for the capability to carry out its own drone strikes, so as to avoid the public outcry that regularly follows attacks by U.S. unmanned aircraft.

The drone attacks in the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan "have seriously impeded Pakistan's efforts towards rooting out militancy and terrorism from the area," the statement said. Pakistan has cooperated with the U.S. drone missions despite its public position against them, and many Pakistani officials privately say that the attacks are helpful.

Analysts have expressed doubt that the United States would comply with Pakistan's request to share the drone technology. "America has been saying, 'This is one of those technologies that is a critical technology, and we haven't even provided it to other allies,' " said Talat Masood, a retired Pakistani general.

Weapons requests have long been a staple of Pakistan's relationship with the United States, but some diplomats said concern has increased after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton took steps this week to boost military sales to India. The measures could provide more than 100 U.S. fighter jets to Pakistan's neighbor and nemesis.

[boomop1]

So they can use it against us.

[Islaminaction]

A bottomless pit.

[WayneS]

How about $100 (US) in military aid for every terrorist they turn over to us?

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on Wednesday called on the United States to provide real-time intelligence, unmanned aircraft technology and other military assistance to help his country combat the Taliban without relying on attacks from U.S. drones.

There was a recent article in the NT Times with senior Pakistani intelligence and defense officials in which they stated that their enemy wasn't the Taliban, it was India. While their country is being devoured from the inside out by the Taliban, they're obsessing about the Indians. The level of self-delusion among the Pakistani leadership is not reassuring. I pretty much believe that the true beneficiary of any US military aid to Pakistan now will be Taliban big-wig Baitullah Mehsud, who will probably be in charge of Pakistan before too long.