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The Pilotless Drone Air Force. 

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A recent statement by a US Senator Dianne Feinstein caused fury in Pakistan when she revealed that the drone air force UAV’s that kill Pakistani civilians actually fly and are controlled from Pakistan. 

This statement was immediately denied by the Pakistani Government, but today CBS News quoted that Nato had an unwritten agreement with Pakistani Military Regime for more than 5 years that allowed them to fly drones from Pakistani soil. 

After 911, the Military Regime of Pakistan handed over 2 airbases in Baluchistan, Shehbaz Airbase in Jacoabad and Shamsi Airbase which is further south in Balochistan. 

Although Pakistan claims that only these 2 airbases are under US control, but as per different evidence and sources, several other installations are under US Control. 

Maripur Airbase in Karachi had been partly used by the US Military since their invasion of Afghanistan. 

An airstrip in Tribal Areas of Pakistan near Wana in Waziristan and one near Nokundi in Baluchistan to fly drones is reported to be used by Americans. 

There have been reports that a number of unidentified airstrips have been developed in Balochistan by the US forces for different operations. 

In one of these operations, one US helicopter crashed in Balochistan during an ongoing air-strike operation in Kadahar. 

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Drone Air Force in Pakistan

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Life will Go on

Immediately after 911 when General Musharraf surrendered Pakistani Airbases for American invasion of Afghanistan, the US had an excuse to use these drone air force facilities in Pakistan since no such facility was yet available in Afghanistan. 

But the question arises that why the US is still using the Pakistani facilities for the air missions against the so called terrorists. 

There could be several reasons for using the airbases in Pakistan rather than using the airbases and installations in Afghanistan. 

The first reason could be that Pakistan is much safer, specifically the southern area in Pakistan is a safe area for slow moving drones to take off without being hit by enemies during take offs and landings. 

Secondly, it is much more convenient for the drones to fly from bases within Pakistan and hit the targets locally in Pakistan immediately after receiving any information. 

The third reason is probably that it is more convenient for the US to spy on Pakistani and Iranian defense installations using drones. 

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Get Your Story Straight

In a recent episode of Meray Mutabiq, Ex-Army Chief General Aslam Baig revealed that US was executing the drone air force missions from Tarbela in NWFP, and also revealed that these drones were being controlled by Americans stationed at Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. 

It is interesting to know that Anssar Abbasi broke a story that US marines shifted truckload of large steel boxes to 4th and 5th floors of Marriott on the same night it was bombed. 

Asia Times reported earlier that US is establishing a large base in Tarbela for Military Operation. 

Although not directly related to above, but Israel, another player in the game has been collaborating with India for spy missions against Pakistan and Iran using Israeli drone planes from Indian Airbases. 

One of the such drones had been shot by Pakistan and Israel believes that Pakistan used that drone with help of China to build their own indigenous drone named “Uqaab”.

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