Washington indicated on Thursday that it would provide drones or unmanned aerial vehicle technology (UAV) to the Pakistani military — a longstanding request of Islamabad that America has previously balked at.
Pakistan which has opposed US drone attacks in its tribal belt bordering Afghanistan has been pressing the Obama administration to provide it with sophisticated UAV technology.
Defence secretary Robert Gates said the Pentagon was considering providing “eyes in the sky” to Pakistan’s military.
“We are in partnership with the Pakistani military and we are working to give them their own intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance vehicles, both aircraft and drones,” Gates told a television channel. “Discussions are under way with the Pakistan military leadership on technical matters in this regard,” he added.
Defence officials told DNA that Gates was referring to a contract the Pentagon is finalising for 12 ‘Shadow’ unarmed surveillance drones that can be used to spy on militants. They confirmed that funds had been set aside to secure the drones for Pakistan.
Although smaller than the armed Predator, the 11-feet long Shadow, with a 14-foot wingspan, has a far greater range and air time than the drones Pakistan currently operate.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has been demanding the US provide drones so that Pakistan can take ownership of the attacks on Taliban fighters in the tribal belt. “Pakistan will need to invest in training drone specialists to be able to take advantage of the new hardware,” said a defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The US has still rejected giving Pakistan armed drones. The Shadow surveillance drone appears to be a compromise aimed at enticing Pakistan further into the war on the Taliban and helping the country’s political leadership explain regular CIA-conducted drone strikes on Pakistani soil.
Meanwhile, India’s chief of air staff PV Naik commented on America’s drone supply to Pakistan at an event in Bangalore. “So long the drones are used against Taliban militants, we have no problem.” Naik added that the Indian air force saw a growing dependence on drones.
