reapers and predators and pakistan

CIA has indicated they will increase the use of non-piloted aircraft in the border regions of Pakistan. The increase accompanies the troop surge announced on Tuesday by the POTUS at West Point—the same speech in which the he said “Moving forward, we are committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built on a foundation of mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust.”

The Pakistanis have allowed the ongoing drone activity because a) they have no choice, and b) the strikes marginally beneficial to the Pak army’s war effort in the West because the strikes often target enemies of the central government; however, due to the complete popular opposition to US military activity within their borders the Pak government has consistently spoken out against drone attacks. This trend has continued with the latest statement from Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit who said there were limits to Pakistani cooperation, and the drone attacks were counterproductive.

‘This has never been part of our discussions. There are clear red-lines as far as we're concerned,’ he said when asked if there were any talks between Washington and Islamabad on expansion of drone attacks to Baluchistan.

‘We have clearly conveyed our red-lines to them.’

This PR exchange comes as Pakistan Taliban fighters carried out a coordinated suicide-machine gun attack in a Rawalpindi mosque frequented by the Pak military. 39 dead, at least 80 wounded.

Also, NATO will expand its force in Afghanistan by 7k troops. Britain, Italy and Poland will beef up their individual commitments by between 680 and 1,200. Georgia will produce approx. 900 new soldiers. The U.S. has been pressing France and Germany for greater troop deployment but as of today neither countries have committed to greater involvement. Womp womp.

The increase in international forces create a ratio of roughly 2:1, waaaaaay better than the "coalition of the willing".