US drone strikes 'ineffective solution' to combat terrorists in Pak, says report

US drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal regions are an ineffective solution to the problems they try to address, according to a new report.

The US has used drones since 2004 to target militants in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a restive semi-autonomous region on the country's border with Afghanistan.

According to an Obama administration official, at least 20 of al Qaeda's 30 top leaders were killed by CIA-led drone strikes in the region, reports the Huffington Post.

In its report, the International Crisis Group argues, however, that while the drone policy has yielded short-term successes, it fails to deter militant groups in the long-term.

According to the organization, as long as FATA remains "an ungoverned no-man's land", the region will be a hot-bed for jihadis.

The report explains that FATA's semi-autonomous status created a situation in which state forces are unable to act against security threats, while civilians lack rights and protection.

The absence of rule of law, a lack of economic opportunities and Pakistani military's support for some jihadis contribute to the popularity of militant groups in the area, it added.

Drone strikes, the report argues, only address the problem on a surface level.

ICG also takes issue with the Obama administration's lack of transparency on the strikes.

The report notes that according to Pakistan's foreign ministry, there have been 330 drone strikes between 2004 and March 2013 that killed 2,200 people and injured 600.

The designation fails to adequately distinguish between civilians and lawful targets, the report said.