Wednesday, March 22, 2023
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

US military sharing drone data with Pakistan: admiral

by Agence France-Presse
May 15, 2009
in Defense Geopolitics News
3 min read
0
14
VIEWS

Washington: The United States has taken the unprecedented step of sharing with Islamabad surveillance data collected by drones flying over Pakistan, the top US military officer said Thursday.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that Pakistan had requested surveillance support missions by US unmanned aircraft at a Senate hearing.

“In terms of support and information, they have asked for that, and where they have asked for that, we’ve supported them,” Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

But Pakistan had not made a request for more surveillance in recent weeks, he said.

“Those requests have ceased over the period of about the last month,” the admiral said.

He did not explain Islamabad’s stance but officials say US military assistance and its drone attacks are a sensitive political subject in Pakistan, with the military and intelligence service divided over Washington’s role.

“We’re hopeful Pakistan will ask for more help,” said a defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “But ultimately it’s up to them.”

Mullen said a New York Times report published Thursday describing the cooperation was an “accurate portrayal.”

US drones flying over the Pakistani-Afghan border, including armed Predator aircraft that have bombed Al-Qaeda and related targets, have been a focus of discussions between Washington and Islamabad and a source of tension.

Pakistani officials have pressed to have direct control over the drones.

“They want the technology but we’re willing to share information gathered from the technology,” the defense official told AFP.

Mullen said a Los Angeles Times report that suggested Pakistan had been given significant control over targets and operations of armed drones was “completely inaccurate.”

In Pakistan, a military spokesman said there had been no deal with Washington on the spy drones.

“No such offer has either been made or has been accepted by the security forces of Pakistan,” military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told a news conference in Islamabad.

CIA Predators are regularly flown covertly in Pakistan, targeting Al-Qaeda militants. Officials say the US military does not participate in the armed drones program inside Pakistan.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari acknowledged Wednesday that Islamabad had asked for “ownership” of US drones carrying out attacks.

Pakistani officials say the drone strikes, which have killed over 390 people in about 42 attacks since August 2008, violate its territorial sovereignty and deepen resentment in the nuclear-armed nation.

US intelligence officers, however, are opposed to joint operations with Pakistan, saying information shared several years ago about planned Predator attacks had been leaked to militants.

Instead, the US military proposed to increase the amount of surveillance information shared with Pakistan in a bid to build trust between the two countries’ security services.

The initiative culminated with a demonstration surveillance mission by a Predator drone operated by the US military in Afghanistan, during which information from the flight was transmitted to a border coordination center operated by US, Pakistanis and Afghans, defense officials said.

President Barack Obama’s administration has resisted sharing information about how to operate the drones, even with allies.

Armed US drones have become a crucial weapon against Al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan, but analysts warn the bombing campaign risks serving as a recruiting tool for extremists and fomenting anger against the Pakistani government and the United States.

At the Senate hearing, Mullen said Washington also had increased its efforts to assist the Pakistan military fight Taliban militants, focusing on improving maintenance for helicopters, providing night vision goggles and training.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the same hearing that while some big weapons systems were being scaled back, his proposed defense budget calls for a major increase in funding for unmanned aircraft.

The drones have played a vital role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gates said.

“We are really placing a major bet in this area,” he said.

Tags: attacksdronepakistanpakistani militarysharingUnmanned Aerial VehicleUS military
Previous Post

Alternatives for Modernizing US Fighter Forces

Next Post

USAF Begins Program to Replace TPS-75s

Related Posts

Made in China: Saudi-Iran deal goes beyond Middle East, say analysts

Made in China: Saudi-Iran deal goes beyond Middle East, say analysts

March 13, 2023

A surprise deal to restore ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran will reverberate across and beyond the Middle East, analysts...

Vostok-2022

What is China’s game plan in Ukraine?

March 1, 2023

China is playing an increasingly prominent role on the sidelines of Russia's war in Ukraine as the conflict drags on...

Next Post

USAF Begins Program to Replace TPS-75s

Latest Defense News

Hwasong-17 ICBM

North Korea fires ‘long-range’ missile as S. Korea president heads to Japan

March 16, 2023
North Korea fires multiple suspected cruise missiles

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles, Seoul says

March 14, 2023
Australia to get nuclear submarines in new US, British partnership

Australia to buy US nuclear subs in ambitious new pact

March 14, 2023
Su-35 Fighter Aircraft, Russian Air Force

Iran says deal reached to buy Russian fighter jets

March 13, 2023
Made in China: Saudi-Iran deal goes beyond Middle East, say analysts

Made in China: Saudi-Iran deal goes beyond Middle East, say analysts

March 13, 2023
North Korea says Kim ordered test of ‘new type’ of ICBM

North Korea adopts war deterrence measures: state media

March 13, 2023

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Royal New Zealand Air Force
  • Foreign Interference in Canada
  • NZDF General discussion thread
  • Royal Danish Navy
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • Royal New Zealand Navy Discussions and Updates
  • General Aviation Thread
  • Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
  • China - Geostrategic & Geopolitical.
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com