This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19704981

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Drones in Pakistan traumatise civilians, US report says Drones in Pakistan traumatise civilians, US report says
(35 minutes later)
Civilians are being "terrorised" 24 hours a day by CIA drone attacks that target mainly low-level militants in north-west Pakistan, a US report says.Civilians are being "terrorised" 24 hours a day by CIA drone attacks that target mainly low-level militants in north-west Pakistan, a US report says.
Rescuers treating the casualties are also being killed and wounded by second drone strikes, the authors say.Rescuers treating the casualties are also being killed and wounded by second drone strikes, the authors say.
Drone attacks are thought to have killed hundreds of militants in Yemen and Afghanistan as well as Pakistan.Drone attacks are thought to have killed hundreds of militants in Yemen and Afghanistan as well as Pakistan.
President Barack Obama has said those targeted are "on a list of active terrorists".President Barack Obama has said those targeted are "on a list of active terrorists".
Senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan.Senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan.
But the scale of civilian casualties has been difficult to assess because independent media and researchers are denied access by the authorities to the tribal areas near the Afghan border.But the scale of civilian casualties has been difficult to assess because independent media and researchers are denied access by the authorities to the tribal areas near the Afghan border.
CIA-ledCIA-led
In one of the most notorious attacks, tribal elders and local traders were among more than 40 people killed when two drones attacked a car carrying at least four militants at Datta Khel in North Waziristan in March 2011.In one of the most notorious attacks, tribal elders and local traders were among more than 40 people killed when two drones attacked a car carrying at least four militants at Datta Khel in North Waziristan in March 2011.
This report does not provide a confirmed death toll for civilian victims of drone strikes. No-one could. First-hand reporting from the scene of a strike is all but impossible.This report does not provide a confirmed death toll for civilian victims of drone strikes. No-one could. First-hand reporting from the scene of a strike is all but impossible.
Foreign reporters cannot enter Pakistan's tribal belt without permission from the army. The areas targeted by drones are often under militant control, making access difficult even for local journalists. Civilians killed by drones can be the forgotten invisible dead.Foreign reporters cannot enter Pakistan's tribal belt without permission from the army. The areas targeted by drones are often under militant control, making access difficult even for local journalists. Civilians killed by drones can be the forgotten invisible dead.
Tariq Khan might have been invisible too, had he not attended a tribal assembly on drones in Islamabad last October. The shy, football-mad teenager was photographed in the audience. Four days later he was dead.Tariq Khan might have been invisible too, had he not attended a tribal assembly on drones in Islamabad last October. The shy, football-mad teenager was photographed in the audience. Four days later he was dead.
His family say he was hit by two missiles as he was riding his motorbike. Tariq - who was petrified of drones - was decapitated in the strike. His 12-year-old cousin Wahid was killed with him.His family say he was hit by two missiles as he was riding his motorbike. Tariq - who was petrified of drones - was decapitated in the strike. His 12-year-old cousin Wahid was killed with him.
After the strike Pakistani officials said four suspected militants had been killed.After the strike Pakistani officials said four suspected militants had been killed.
In June this year, a senior al-Qaeda leader, Abu Yahya al-Libi, was killed in a drone strike.In June this year, a senior al-Qaeda leader, Abu Yahya al-Libi, was killed in a drone strike.
That attack prompted UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay to question the legality of a practice that was "outside the military chain of command".That attack prompted UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay to question the legality of a practice that was "outside the military chain of command".
A controversial aspect of the US policy is that drone attacks are carried out, not by the military, but by the Central Intelligence Agency. Pakistan is not a zone of armed conflict, unlike neighbouring Afghanistan.A controversial aspect of the US policy is that drone attacks are carried out, not by the military, but by the Central Intelligence Agency. Pakistan is not a zone of armed conflict, unlike neighbouring Afghanistan.
US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has defended the policy, saying that the US will continue to defend itself.US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has defended the policy, saying that the US will continue to defend itself.
Earlier this year President Barack Obama insisted the strategy was "kept on a very tight leash" and that without the drones, the US would have had to resort to "more intrusive military action".Earlier this year President Barack Obama insisted the strategy was "kept on a very tight leash" and that without the drones, the US would have had to resort to "more intrusive military action".
Although an Associated Press investigation on the ground in Pakistan found that a significant majority of those killed by the drones were combatants, the report, by Stanford University and New York University's School of Law, comes to a very different conclusion. An Associated Press investigation on the ground in Pakistan found that a significant majority of those killed by the drones were combatants. The report, by Stanford University and New York University's School of Law, upholds that conclusion as well as detailing hundreds of civilian casualties and the effects of drone strikes on the local population.
Intelligence-sharingIntelligence-sharing
Citing "extensive interviews with the local population", the authors say:Citing "extensive interviews with the local population", the authors say:
  • children are being taken out of school out of fear of a drone-strike or to compensate for income lost from a dead or wounded relative
  • there is "significant evidence" of the practice of "double-tap" strikes in which rescuers arriving at the scene are targeted in follow-up attacks
  • drones flying overhead have led to "substantial levels of fear and stress... in the civilian communities"
  • as well as injury or death, the attacks cause property damage, severe economic hardship and emotional trauma for the injured and their families
  • people are afraid to attend gatherings such as funerals for fear of attack
  • children are being taken out of school out of fear of a drone-strike or to compensate for income lost from a dead or wounded relative
  • there is "significant evidence" of the practice of "double-tap" strikes in which rescuers arriving at the scene are targeted in follow-up attacks
  • drones flying overhead have led to "substantial levels of fear and stress... in the civilian communities"
  • as well as injury or death, the attacks cause property damage, severe economic hardship and emotional trauma for the injured and their families
  • people are afraid to attend gatherings such as funerals for fear of attack
London-based human rights group Reprieve, which commissioned the report, said it was taking legal action in an attempt to force the UK government to clarify its policy of sharing intelligence in support of the CIA's drone-strikes.London-based human rights group Reprieve, which commissioned the report, said it was taking legal action in an attempt to force the UK government to clarify its policy of sharing intelligence in support of the CIA's drone-strikes.
Reprieve said it was acting on behalf of Noor Khan, whose father was one of the victims of the March 2011 attack at Datta Khel.Reprieve said it was acting on behalf of Noor Khan, whose father was one of the victims of the March 2011 attack at Datta Khel.