• Tallal Chaudhry denounces attempts to ‘politicise’ counter-terror operations
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• Dar says decision on canals delayed, will only be taken with partners’ input
ISLAMABAD: As the government defended a recent security operation in Mardan’s Katlang area — which led to at least 11 casualties — on the floor of the National Assembly on Monday, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry did not dispute the claim that it was a ‘drone strike’, carried out by Pakistani security forces.
Although Pakistan’s government and military have never officially acknowledged the use of unmanned drones in anti-terror operations, a number of such attacks have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the past year.
The minister was responding to opposition criticism of the ‘drone strike’ when he insisted that the people who perished in the attack were militants — an assertion contested by the opposition, which claimed that civilians were slain in the action.
In response to a question, the minister informed lawmakers that the action was part of a broader intelligence-based campaign under the National Action Plan (NAP), adding that the strike was conducted in a remote, mountainous area with no civilian population to avoid collateral damage.
However, Mr Chaudhry did not contradict the opposition’s assertion that it was a drone strike.
As he spoke, the opposition lawmakers heckled him, calling him “a liar” and “ignorant”, which invited the ire of NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Eventually, opposition lawmakers walked out in protest.
Reading out an official statement issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, the minister said the counter-terrorism operation was carried out on March 29 based on credible intelligence.
“The area was being used by terrorists as a hideout and transit point,” he quoted the KP government’s statement as saying. According to the statement, several high-profile militants involved in terrorist activities in the region were neutralised, the minister said.
Mr Chaudhry slammed the politicisation of security operations, saying that national security should not be used for political gain. “It is unfortunate that matters of national interest, like counter-terrorism, are being turned into political controversies. We must rise above such attitudes,” he said.
He also questioned the effectiveness of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s counter-terrorism measures, despite “receiving over Rs800 billion” through the NFC Award. “Who is responsible for law and order after the 18th Amendment — the federation or the provinces?” he asked.
He noted that several districts in KP lack functional Counter-Terrorism Departments (CTDs), Safe City projects have not been implemented, and there was not even a forensic lab in the province.
“Even today, terrorism-related cases from KP are being sent to Punjab’s forensic lab, established during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure,” he said.
The minister also alleged that the KP government had resettled militants who were previously expelled. “Now, they want to politicise the Katlang operation,” he said. The minister also called for a special session on the National Action Plan to review the performance of all provinces.
‘Not allowed to talk’
The issue was raised in the house by PTI lawmaker Saleemur Rehman, who regretted the “first drone attack by security forces on its own unarmed people”.
He lamented that instead of expressing sorrow over the incident, innocent people were branded as terrorists. PTI’s Mujahid Ali called for a judicial inquiry into the drone strike and a compensation package for the victims.
JUI-F leader Misbahuddin alleged reckless drone strikes were being carried out in North Waziristan. He said a matric student wounded during a strike on 26th Ramazan later succumbed to his injuries.
