Pakistan Joins U.S. in Drone Attacks

The Obama administration is quieting Pakistani objections to U.S drone attacks on militants in their country by granting them greater control over the air strikes. In a new collaboration, the U.S. military drones will be allowed for the first time to leave Afghanistan’s borders and target Taliban militants under the direction of Pakistani military officials. U.S. military in Afghanistan have been powerless to pursue insurgents once they cross the border into Pakistan—the task was once the domain of the CIA. This new collaboration could change that, though Pakistani officials are ambivalent about using the drones to fire on their own people. Taliban fighters are presenting a growing threat to Pakistan’s capital as well, as Afghanistan. “This is about building trust,” a senior U.S. military official tells the Los Angeles Times.