IB: Please tell me what exactly are these "checkposts" supposed to do? Their location, layout and modus operandi need to be re-evaluated, it seems to me.
Sir I agree with you
they are called forts and check posts for the name sake but they are not the ones that you normally see erected by the US army in iraq and Afghanistan that are well protected and cant be easily overrun and with clear signs saying kill your speed or be killed in very certain terms.
the ones I have seen in such areas are just the sacks of sand bags with no top protection or even the wooden or tin foil cabins. Not all but some are only there for cosmetic purposes and lack the firepower to deter a premeditated and determined attack.
Not all but in many cases our casualties are due to loose SOPs , breaking the skyline, unnecessarily exposing (NO I don’t mean in that sense!!) and going for a pee without due care. Also when a place is quiet for some time it does dull the senses and they lax out and that’s when a keen terrorist scout sees that and calls in an attack. The other issue is the fatigue and the lack of reaction time.
I remember NATO troops commander complaining in Afghanistan about the difficulty in distinguishing an ordinary Afghan and a Taliban and thus a short time to react if that Afghan suddenly pulls out a weapon. In our case we don’t even have that luxury. The “innocent” Baloch Sardars come and go with the armed entourage and if any of the armed tribesmen is asked to give up or even hide the weapons that is seen as an aggression and infringement of their centuries old traditions.
Do you recall the incident where talal Bhugti was caught in the act then he was stopped by the FC in his SUV and was loaded with ammunition that was enough to launch an attack on big base. It included rockets, grenades assault rifles, RGPs and what not. He was returning from Afghanistan and the moment that news broke out we started getting bullied through the web by the pseudo Baloch supporters in India and USA.
So we can only react when that innocent looking tribesman is pointing his weapon to our soldiers. Although I am not aware of this particular incident but there is a possibility that the terrorists struck when the soldiers were not fully alert. It would have started with eliminating the sentry and then lobbing grenades or an RGB fire on the “post” and then finish off the shell shocked and phased soldiers with the small arms. Pick up quickly whatever is useful. Throw some propaganda posters and if time allows some marking on the wall with “free Baloch” or long live Mengal or Bughti or Marri and then leave the place before the relief arrives.
they are called forts and check posts for the name sake but they are not the ones that you normally see erected by the US army in iraq and Afghanistan that are well protected and cant be easily overrun and with clear signs saying kill your speed or be killed in very certain terms.
the ones I have seen in such areas are just the sacks of sand bags with no top protection or even the wooden or tin foil cabins. Not all but some are only there for cosmetic purposes and lack the firepower to deter a premeditated and determined attack.
Not all but in many cases our casualties are due to loose SOPs , breaking the skyline, unnecessarily exposing (NO I don’t mean in that sense!!) and going for a pee without due care. Also when a place is quiet for some time it does dull the senses and they lax out and that’s when a keen terrorist scout sees that and calls in an attack. The other issue is the fatigue and the lack of reaction time.
I remember NATO troops commander complaining in Afghanistan about the difficulty in distinguishing an ordinary Afghan and a Taliban and thus a short time to react if that Afghan suddenly pulls out a weapon. In our case we don’t even have that luxury. The “innocent” Baloch Sardars come and go with the armed entourage and if any of the armed tribesmen is asked to give up or even hide the weapons that is seen as an aggression and infringement of their centuries old traditions.
Do you recall the incident where Zain Bhugti was caught in the act then he was stopped by the FC in his SUV and was loaded with ammunition that was enough to launch an attack on big base. It included rockets, grenades assault rifles, RGPs and what not. He was returning from Afghanistan and the moment that news broke out we started getting bullied through the web by the pseudo Baloch supporters in India and USA.
So we can only react when that innocent looking tribesman is pointing his weapon to our soldiers. Although I am not aware of this particular incident but there is a possibility that the terrorists struck when the soldiers were not fully alert. It would have started with eliminating the sentry and then lobbing grenades or an RGB fire on the “post” and then finish off the shell shocked and phased soldiers with the small arms. Pick up quickly whatever is useful. Throw some propaganda posters and if time allows some marking on the wall with “free Baloch” or long live Mengal or Bughti or Marri and then leave the place before the relief arrives.
now lets see some of these "Forts" and "Checkposts"
the last one does show some form of a post with a speed barrier but doesnt offer much protection against a explosive laden vehicle that might be rammed into the post.
it does however offer protection from sniper fire and shrapnel from a nearby explosion (depending how far the impact is).
But then again its on the road and the attacker wont loose his speed if he has to charge on it.
the last one does show some form of a post with a speed barrier but doesnt offer much protection against a explosive laden vehicle that might be rammed into the post.
it does however offer protection from sniper fire and shrapnel from a nearby explosion (depending how far the impact is).
But then again its on the road and the attacker wont loose his speed if he has to charge on it.
(although it is not related to the subject but I think this picture is worth explaining)
I must point put that is picture is attributed by some websites that are linking it with Kharotabad incident where a group of foreigners were gunned down by the security forces near Quetta checkpost on the mistaken identity with an earlier warning about a group of Chechen suicide bombers on their way to this post. the Afghan war journal is attributing this picture with Pakistani troops in Tribal areas. But there are some similarities which suggests that these soldiers are at the same place. Whether they are posing for the camera or this picture is from actual shooting is not known because this picture doesn’t seem to be taken in a hurray.
I think you got the idea by now
Zain Bughti the shameless being let go after being caught with large weapons cashe. I dont want to blame the USA but he openly called their embassy and was got his out of jail pass afterwords. its our leadership that didnt stand up to the Americans saying cmoe on guys we caught this b@stard with large weapons cashe what does it have to do with Baloch human rights?