U.S. Drone Strikes Will Continue In Pakistan

Image from Foreign Policy

Scaled-Back Pakistan Drone Strikes Reflect Success: U.S. Official -- Reuters

(Reuters) - A reduction in U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan in recent months reflects success in targeting senior al Qaeda operatives and forcing militants "underground," a U.S. official said on Friday.

The United States suspended strikes by the unmanned aircraft in Pakistani borderlands for nearly two months late last year, partly to ease anger over a November 26 NATO air attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and led Pakistan to close supply routes to U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan.

Strikes in the border area of North Waziristan resumed in January, but the rate of attacks has been scaled back so far this year, U.S. officials said.

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Update: U.S. officials: Drone strikes will go on in Pakistan -- USA Today/AP

My Comment: Absent a better strategy, U.S. drone strikes will continue. But with many militants now fleeing Pakistan to better safe havens in Yemen and Africa .... there may come a day when drone strikes will not be necessary.