Despite civilian deaths, McCain defends US drone raids

US Senator John McCain defended Thursday the use of drone attacks against suspected militants in Pakistan, despite the mounting civilian casualties of the raids.

“The drone strikes are part of an overall set of tactics which make up the strategy for victory and they have been very effective,” he said during his visit to Kabul. He did not mention the collateral damage inflicted upon the civilian population.

“I think it should continue, I think it’s an important tool in our overall strategy and we can claim measurable success in carrying out those operations,” said McCain.

The drone attacks, carried out by the US Central Intelligence Agency in cooperation with the Pentagon, reportedly killed over 700 civilians in Pakistan last year.

McCain also noted that a parliamentary election in Afghanistan due in May could be delayed by up to three months. According to Afghanistan’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the poll should go ahead on May 22.

Following McCain’s remarks, deputy head of the IEC, Daud Ali Najafi, said Afghanistan will hold the election on schedule despite concerns.

However, Western diplomats in Kabul say they doubt Afghanistan will be able to eradicate the problems that turned last August’s presidential poll into a ballot-stuffing farce.