After the events that took place on September 11th, 2001, the United States military drastically increased their use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This type of projection of force abroad has not come without scrutiny. Both the legality and effectiveness of use have come under question. This study sets out to understand whether the use of drones by the United States is an effective way to fight terrorism abroad. In order to measure success, the study looks at the legality of strikes with regards to how the United States frames their use of drones. The study also looks at the foreign policy goals of the United States usage of drones, specifically through the lenses of liberal-interventionism, in order to determine whether the usage of drones is effective in combating terrorism abroad. The study will focus on drone usage against al Qaeda and the Taliban, primarily in the countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Subsequently, the United States drone usage is a useful instrument because of the way it eliminates key targets and facilities of US enemies abroad.

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Drones: A Projection of Force Abroad

The US launched its targeted killing campaign in the northwest region of Pakistan in 2004. The human rights organizations, civil society, media, intelligentsia and representatives of all political parties have strongly condemned drone attacks within Pakistan's territory and urged to halt these attacks as they are stirring up anger among masses. Upholding US drone policy, the US administration advocated that drone strikes comply with all applicable laws. In this regard, two important legal aspects come on surface: does Article 51 of the UN Charter authorize the US to conduct drone attacks unilaterally in Pakistan as an act of self-defense or has Pakistan government accorded permission to the US to carry out drone attacks on its territory? This study, while finding the answers of such queries, analyzes the legality of US targeted killing operations in Pakistan and determines whether drone attacks correspond with Pakistan's requirements or counterproductive for peace and security.

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Muhammad Imran Chaudhry

Papers

License to Kill? On the Legality of Targeted Killings in Pakistan by Drones