Islamabad: The United States will supply 85 small drones to Pakistan to help it fight militants in the country’s tribal areas, according to a TV report.
A local English TV channel- Express- quoted unidentified US military officials as saying that Pakistan would be given 85 small drones, Xinhua reports.
The news came shortly after US President Barack Obama’s top military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, paid a visit to Pakistan.
The US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman met with his Pakistani counterpart General Khalid Shameem Wynne and other top Pakistani military officials, including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Pervez Kayani.
Pakistan, while repeatedly publicly condemning drone attacks in its militant-infested tribal areas, has long demanded the US to provide it with drone technologies, but Washington had turned a deaf ear to such requests so far.
The unconfirmed agreement by the US to provide Pakistan with 85 small drones could be a comprise made by the US Army Chief Mike Mullen during his recent visit to Islamabad, in order to win the support and cooperation from Pakistan, especially from its Army, in the fight in the neighbouring country of Afghanistan.
The militants hiding in Pakistan's northwest tribal areas often launch attacks at the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan, posing a serious headache for the foreign troops there.
ANI
First Published: Friday, April 22, 2011, 13:55