Pakistan this past week took its diplomatic dispute with the United States out to the open when it announced that it will from now on shoot the drones flying in its skies. The announcement was made by the head of Pakistan Air Force who said the country’s military would act against any US unmanned aerial vehicle violating Pakistan’s airspace. This could be a clear affront to the Americans that have been using drones to attack what they describe as terrorist targets inside the Pakistani territory for some 13 years now. But it could to the same degree be a relief to the Pakistanis given rising criticisms that the attacks – which are launched from US bases in Afghanistan – had already taken huge tolls on civilians.
