Perception of Foreign Drone Strikes by Citizens: The Context of US Drone Strikes in Pakistan

Abstract

Since the start of US drone strikes in 2004–2005, these remotely piloted drone aircraft have been a subject of discussions internationally, especially at the UN. Previous studies have reported the effectiveness of US drone strikes in countering terrorism, and large public support in Pakistan for such measures. Contrasting with previous work on the subject, this research found that sentiments of reprisal were aimed against the Pakistan government, its armed forces including anti-US and anti-NATO feelings. This is in addition to the existence of some negative attitudes against local extremists and terrorists as well.

Frontier rule and conflict

“…Specifically, the FR areas witnessed military offensives, both by Pakistani and US forces, against alleged sanctuaries of terrorist outfits. From 2004 onwards, the US also carried out drone strikes against alleged Al-Qaeda-linked affiliates in Pakistan's North-West (Ahmed et al 2019;Mahmood and Jetter 2019). These attacks increased after 2008, reached their peak in 2010, and declined precipitously thereafter until they were phased out by the Obama administration in 2016 (see Figure B1 in Appendix B).…”

Frontier governmentality

“…In the post-9/11 period the FCR areas witnessed military offensives, both by Pakistani and US forces, against alleged sanctuaries of terrorist outfits. Since 2004 the USA has carried out more than 420 drone attacks against alleged Al-Qaeda-linked affiliates in Pakistan's North-West (Ahmed et al 2019;Mahmood and Jetter 2019). These attacks increased after 2008 and peaked around 2010 during the Obama administration.…”

Transformation in Political Economy of Post-conflict North Waziristan, Pakistan

“…As mentioned above, peripheral and fragile geography, weak governance structures and the permeable border became ideally suited for conflict, crime, illicit trading and terrorism, subsequently spreading deep inside the country (e.g. Ahmed et al, 2017; Chandran and Rajamohan, 2007).…”