U.S. Ties With Afghanistan And Pakistan Are Becoming Strain Over Persistent Drone Strikes

Recent Drone Strikes Strain U.S. Ties With Afghanistan And Pakistan -- New York Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — Two separate but similarly bitter disagreements over drone strikes in Pakistan and Afghanistan have complicated relations between the United States and those two countries at a delicate moment, again highlighting the political complications from America’s persistent reliance on the lethal remote-controlled weapons.

In Afghanistan, the American military commander called President Hamid Karzai late Thursday to apologize for a drone strike that resulted in civilian casualties and that gave Mr. Karzai renewed reason to refuse to sign a long-term security agreement with the United States.

In Pakistan’s tribal belt, meanwhile, what was thought to be C.I.A. drone strike on Friday killed a Pakistani militant days after a major political party, as part of its campaign to end the drone strikes, publicly named a man it said was America’s top spy in the country.

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My Comment: It is more than just drone strikes that are straining these ties. Bottom line .... the U.S. has overstayed in the region .... it is time to leave.