Between mid June and mid July alone, there were at least six drone attacks by the US on militants in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Agencies (FATA), killing more than 175 people. One such strike alone on 23 June 2009, hit a funeral, killing nearly 100 people.

Some crucial questions need to be addressed. Contrary to the popular expectations, why should the Obama administration continue the drone attacks, against its own ally? And, why should Pakistan make meek objections, but submit eventually? Will these attacks continue, and expand into the settled districts of NWFP and even Balochistan, as some American reports have indicated?