http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/18-o\
ver-700-killed-in-44-drone-strikes-in-2009-am-01


Dawn News
January 2, 2010


Over 700 killed in 44 drone strikes in 2009


PESHAWAR: Of the 44 predator strikes carried out by US drones in the tribal
areas of Pakistan over the past 12 months, only five were able to hit their
actual targets, killing five key Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, but at the cost
of over 700 innocent civilians.

According to the statistics compiled by Pakistani authorities, the
Afghanistan-based US drones killed 708 people in 44 predator attacks targeting
the tribal areas between January 1 and December 31, 2009.

For each Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorist killed by US drones, 140 innocent
Pakistanis also had to die. Over 90 per cent of those killed in the deadly
missile strikes were civilians, claim authorities.

The success percentage for the drone hits during 2009 was hardly 11 per cent. On
average, 58 civilians were killed in these attacks every month, 12 persons every
week and almost two people every day. Most of the attacks were carried out on
the basis of human intelligence, reportedly provided by the Pakistani and Afghan
tribesmen, who are spying for the US-led allied forces in Afghanistan.

Of the five successful predator attacks carried out in 2009, the first one came
on January 1, which reportedly killed two senior al-Qaeda leaders – Usama
al-Kin and Sheikh Ahmed Salim – both wanted by the American Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI). Kin was the chief operational commander of Al-Qaeda in
Pakistan and had replaced Abu Faraj Al Libi after his arrest in 2004.

The second successful drone attack was conducted on August 5 in South Waziristan
that killed the most wanted fugitive chief of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
Baitullah Mehsud along with his wife.

The US State Department had announces a $5million head money for information
leading to Baitullah, making him the only Pakistani fugitive with the head money
separately announced by Islamabad and Washington.
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