After the controversial Nato attack on Pakistani check posts and the consequent shutting down of Shamsi airbase, a US official has claimed that drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal agencies are currently on hold, The Long War Journal reported.
According to a report, a US official says that drone strikes have been put “on hold” because there is a fear that attacks may further deteriorate ties between the two countries and may push them “past the point of no return.”
“We may strike soon if an extremely high value target pops up, but otherwise there is hesitation to pull the trigger right now.”
Shamsi airbase was being used by the US to target suspected militants affiliated with al Qaeda and the Taliban operating in Pakistan’s tribal areas, using unmanned drones armed with missiles.
Relationships between the two countries deteriorated when US Navy SEALs landed in Abbottabad on May 2 and killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in Mohmand Agency by Nato troops last month also brought anger and contempt from authorities in Pakistan.
The incident led to the blockade of Nato supply to troops in Afghanistan, withdrawal from Bonn conference in Germany and the closure of Shamsi airbase near Quetta.
US officials have refrained from offering a formal apology over the incident.
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