A new investigative report has confirmed that the non-UN-sanctioned US assassination drones in Pakistan have repeatedly targeted civilians.
The report by the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed that the unmanned American aircraft carried out follow-up attacks to target the people involved in rescuing the victims of earlier raids. It also said that the drones targeted civilians attending funerals.
Contrary to the claims made by American officials that the drone attacks were “focused and targeted”, the report said that since US President Barack Obama took office in 2009, between 282 and 535 people, including over 60 children, have been reported dead in the attacks in Pakistan.
The findings are based on witness accounts in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
The investigation says the missiles fired from the US drones killed at least 50 civilians who had gone to help victims, and that over 20 civilian deaths were reported in deliberate strikes on funerals and mourners.
The US has been using the unmanned vehicles for its spy operations and assassination missions worldwide and the strikes have intensified since Obama took office three years ago.
Obama confirmed for the first time last month that the non-UN-sanctioned attacks were carried out by the US drones within Pakistan.
The attacks have resulted in growing anti-American sentiments in the country. Islamabad has condemned the US assassination drone strikes in the northwestern tribal belt of the country as “unlawful and counterproductive.”
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