There have been several news in the recent months about US drone attacks against Muslim extremists in Pakistan that have incurred civilian casualties. These attacks, however, have been successful in neutralizing the radicals, as the Pakistani army and its allies have taken back the Swat valley from the Taliban resistance. Fighting has now moved to Waziristan, in the latest attempt to defeat the Taliban warlord Baitullah Mehsud.

The CIA has now come up with its latest weapon against Muslim extremists, especially the elements of al-Qaida that are said to be holed up in the tribal hinterlands of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. This time, tribesmen in the area are asked to plant a device that guides drone attacks. ‘The CIA is equipping Pakistani tribesmen with secret electronic transmitters to help target and kill al-Qaida leaders in the northwestern tribal belt, in a tactic that could aid Pakistan’s army as it takes the battle against extremism to the Taliban heartland.’

The results have been beneficial to the anti-radical campaign. ‘Over the last 18 months, the US has launched more than 50 drone attacks, mostly in south and north Waziristan. US officials claim nine of the top 20 al-Qaida figures have been killed.’

The Pashto locals call the chip ‘pathrai’ which translates to metal device. Tribesmen are said to be planting these chips or electronic devices ‘near farmhouses sheltering al-Qaida and Taliban commanders.’ Guided by these electronic chips, a drone subsequently shoots the target with missiles. In effect, ‘it is a high-tech assassination operation for one of the world’s most remote areas.’

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Via guardian.co.uk