Pakistan trying to secure drone technology from US: Gilani

Islamabad, April 19: Demanding an end to the American drone attacks in the restive tribal belt, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan was trying to secure the spy plane technology from the US and seeking enhanced intelligence- sharing so that it can act on its own against militants.

Gilani raised the issue of drone strikes with a visiting Congressional delegation led by Speaker of the US House of Representatives, John Boehner, and said American lawmakers should influence the Obama administration to agree on a joint strategy under which drone technology could be transferred to Pakistan.

Addressing the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament after his meeting with Boehner yesterday, Gilani said he had told the US delegation about growing unrest among the public due to the missile strikes by the CIA-operated spy planes.

"I told him that you will have to respect our political and military efforts if you want to succeed in the war on terror," he said.

"We are trying to secure drone technology from the US so that after gaining information from their intelligence reports, we can hit the militant hideouts in the tribal region," Gilani told the National Assembly.

The war against terror is Pakistan's own war, which it will fight to eliminate an enemy that is posing a serious threat to the country, he added.

Gilani said the US should pass on credible information to Pakistan's intelligence set-up and the country would itself take action against terrorists on its soil.

Though Pakistan publicly opposes the US drone strikes in its tribal belt, analysts say there is a tacit understanding between the two countries on the attacks that have resulted in the elimination of dozens of Taliban and al- Qaeda leaders, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud.

Relations between the US' CIA and Pakistan's ISI were strained in the wake of the arrest of CIA contractor Raymond Davis after he gunned down two armed men in Lahore in January.

PTI