Collateral Damage and Radicalization Process: A Case of American Drone Strikes Policy in FATA, Pakistan

Abstract

This research is about the drone strikes conducted by the U.S. government in the FATA region of Pakistan from Afghanistan. Though FATA is not a declared war zone, the U.S. still continues to carry out drone attack there for a comparative number advantage of drone technology. This war tactic has been very effective in targeting some high-profile terrorists; it is not without side effects. There is a consensus of opinion that drones have killed numerous civilians in the process of targeting the terrorists. This research tries to develop an understanding of how collateral damage may work to the advantage of non-state actors and terrorist organizations and how it helps fuel the process of radicalization in the aggrieved community. Data is collected through secondary sources. It is a source of radicalization of aggrieved people who resort to revenge the death of their dear ones.