DURING the last few days the intensity and frequency of drone attacks have increased manifold. It appears as if every inch of North Waziristan is in the sight of drone attacks and the handlers know where the terrorists are hiding.

This point is beyond logic and cannot be accepted as a plea for drone attacks. The Pakistan government has repeatedly criticised these attacks but in vain.

Rather our protests have increased the propensity of drones. For Pakistan it is just a shot in the foot. The TTP, unable to counter-attack drones, unleashes terror on innocent Pakistanis.

The poor people have to bear the brunt of the TTP’s repercussions.

Killing scores of their Muslim brethren in the most brutal way, through bomb blasts and suicide attacks, is the ultimate outcome of drone attacks on the Taliban.

Political instability has shattered the minds of people living in areas surrounding Waziristan. As a result, the economy of the province has taken a nose-dive due to a large-scale scale immigration of people of the troubled areas to safer places.

Simultaneously, rouge elements have taken advantage of the situation, causing havoc to the public in the name of the TTP.

Our borders are being crossed incessantly without any warning. A solid and firm stance on this issue is the need of hour.

IFTIKHAR MIRZA Islamabad