COAS stresses action against terror abetters

[HAIDER]

ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif again raised a red flag about external financing of terrorist groups and their domestic support network and called for sustained fight against terrorism.

“Terrorists are being funded externally by hostile intelligence agencies and have their sympathisers at home who provide them shelter and refuge,” Gen Sharif told corps commanders at their monthly conference that reviews internal and external security situation.

This is the second time in the past seven days that Gen Sharif has called for focus on the sympathy factor for terrorists within the country. He had pointed out the same when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited ISI Headquarters last week for a security briefing.

Gen Sharif’s reiteration of the threat came on the day when the head of Intelligence Bureau, Aftab Sultan, testified before a Senate panel that local extremists had a soft corner for the militant Islamic State (IS) group, also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh, which is now considered an emerging threat for the country.

It is unclear if Gen Sharif’s repeated reference to the internal threat was a prelude to start of some major crackdown on sympathisers of terrorists. There have been reports that an operation against Punjab-based extremist groups is in the offing.

A prevailing perception that the National Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism is not progressing well also forms an important context of this repeated assertion.

Gen Sharif also cautioned that despite the successes in Operation Zarb-i-Azb, which has decreased the level of terrorist violence in the country, the fight is complex and far from having been won.

But, at the same time, he sounded optimistic about ultimately defeating terrorism.

“We will defeat the nefarious designs of our enemies and eliminate terrorists from Pakistan’s soil. Resilience of the whole nation and professionalism of our security forces are our real assets and I am optimistic that we will succeed in bringing enduring peace in Pakistan,” a statement issued by ISPR quoted Gen Sharif as saying.

Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said the purpose of repeatedly highlighting the issue of local facilitators was to express the determination and resolve to deal with the issue of extremism and terrorism. He said that a number of facilitators had already been netted.

The military top brass further discussed the Afghan reconciliation process which Pakistan is facilitating as part of a quadrilateral framework, which includes Afghanistan, US and China. Direct talks between Taliban and Afghan government are likely to begin before the end of this month.

The generals also reviewed security arrangements for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016

 

[That Guy]

You know, there is a really easy way to drop terrorist attacks by at least 50%, build an Israeli style wall along the Afghan border. We know for a fact that a vast majority of the attacks are coming from across the border in Afghanistan, where TTP and ISIS militants that ran away from ZeA, are holed up in their sanctuaries. There isn't even a real need to target them in hot pursuit, or even engage with Afghanistan politically (though it helps). Just build a wall, and tell Afghanistan to screw off.

[Edit]: If Afghanistan gets really angry, just give them access to Gwadar, that should calm things down.

 

[Zaneesh852]

You know, there is a really easy way to drop terrorist attacks by at least 50%, build an Israeli style wall along the Afghan border. We know for a fact that a vast majority of the attacks are coming from across the border in Afghanistan, where TTP and ISIS militants that ran away from ZeA, are holed up in their sanctuaries. There isn't even a real need to target them in hot pursuit, or even engage with Afghanistan politically (though it helps). Just build a wall, and tell Afghanistan to screw off.

[Edit]: If Afghanistan gets really angry, just give them access to Gwadar, that should calm things down.

There is a basic problem, Pak Afghan border is not a flattish terrain like Palestine/Israeli territory.

 

[That Guy]

There is a basic problem, Pak Afghan border is not a flattish terrain like Palestine/Israeli territory.

You don't even have to cover all of it, just the most frequently used infiltration points. If you do that, you'll be able to afford reassigning troops to areas that are not covered.

Cover enough to get the job done.

 

[Zaneesh852]

You don't even have to cover all of it, just the most frequently used infiltration points. If you do that, you'll be able to afford reassigning troops to areas that are not covered.

Cover enough to get the job done.

And you think terrorists would be coming form areas which are easier to fence and patrol? Isn't it obvious that terrorists would use those areas which are harder to fence and patrol? or that they would keep using those route even if we take your argument on face value and place control points there?

 

[That Guy]

And you think terrorists would be coming form areas which are easier to fence and patrol? Isn't it obvious that terrorists would use those areas which are harder to fence and patrol? or that they would keep using those route even if we take your argument on face value and place control points there?

Try reading what I said,

most frequently used infiltration points

It's actually not that hard to fence of most of the highly sensitive areas, the problem is cost.

Most of what you've said, really doesn't even need mentioning, as it's pretty much a granted thing.

 

[The Eagle]

There are many areas that yet we have to strengthen our security by improvements like try to opt more reliable surveillance equipment, raise the security level more than before, wider the intelligence op area, keep a constant eye on Pak-Afghan border without a blink and for the same purpose such equipment are required. Check & balance in regards of Afghan refugees and most important scrutiny of internal traitors and supporter of them terrorists starting from Immigration and NADRA.

 

[litman]

and who will take this action???

 

[Donald Trump]

“We will defeat the nefarious designs of our enemies and eliminate terrorists from Pakistan’s soil. Resilience of the whole nation and professionalism of our security forces are our real assets and I am optimistic that we will succeed in bringing enduring peace in Pakistan,” a statement issued by ISPR quoted Gen Sharif as saying.

Source: COAS stresses action against terror abetters

You don't say!! Then why don't you start with good old Gen Hafiz Saeed of the LeT, Maulana Masoor Azhar of the JeM and their mercenary armies and the dozens of terror training camps? The 'good terrorists' need to be taken out too as almost half of them have already deserted and joined the TTP and Al Qaeda which the PA is now up against!

 

[Zaneesh852]

Try reading what I said,

most frequently used infiltration points

It's actually not that hard to fence of most of the highly sensitive areas, the problem is cost.

Most of what you've said, really doesn't even need mentioning, as it's pretty much a granted thing.

Well most frequent infiltartion points are A)Obviously those points which are harder to patrol or keep watch.
B) If they are easier to guard then the military is smart enough to place a outpost there already.
Fencing is not about sensitivity of terrain but the nature of it. Can you fence a tiny passage through difficult mountains? or can you fence the summit of a mountain? Had afghan border been easier to fence like eastern one, we would have already seen it being fenced.

 

[notorious_eagle]

There is a basic problem, Pak Afghan border is not a flattish terrain like Palestine/Israeli territory.

Fine, than go ruthless. Mine the border, we have hundreds and thousands of mines sitting in our storage depots collecting dust. Lets put them to good use and mine our border with Afghanistan.

 

[That Guy]

Well most frequent infiltartion points are A)Obviously those points which are harder to patrol or keep watch.
B) If they are easier to guard then the military is smart enough to place a outpost there already.
Fencing is not about sensitivity of terrain but the nature of it. Can you fence a tiny passage through difficult mountains? or can you fence the summit of a mountain? Had afghan border been easier to fence like eastern one, we would have already seen it being fenced.

You're thinking of a fence as either being a metal wall, or one made of concrete, both of which are flat and are fitted in rows.

The thing is, Pakistan has already begun digging a long trench along the border, with the intention of eventually building a wall along it. You also forget that Pakistan has proposed walling the border multiple times, and has even shown plans for it to the Afghan side, but it was the Afghans that went against it.

You saying that it is impossible, is simply not true. Pakistan's military planners seem to think it is completely possible.

 

[Cool_Soldier]

yes, y it is really needed to root them out.
keep it up.