AI accuses US of war crimes in Pakistan

Amnesty International (Al) in a document titled, “Will I be next US drone strikes victim in Pakistan” accused the US of unlawful killings in Pakistan which could amount to war crimes.

“Secrecy surrounding the drones program gives the US administration a licene to kill beyond the reach of the courts or basic standards of international law. It’s time for the USA to come clean about the drones program and hold those responsible for these violations to account,” said Amnesty International’s Pakistan Researcher Mustafa Qadri.

The organisation reviewed 45 known drone strikes in northwest Pakistan between 2012 January and 2013 August and carried detailed research into nine strikes which showed serious violations of international law and could in fact amount to war crimes or extra judicial killings.

Among the many documented killing of non-combatants is that of Mamano Bibi, a 68-year-old grandmother killed by a Hellfire missile whilst collecting vegetables in the family’s field surrounded by her grandchildren.