Elmo
RETIRED MOD
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This is a combined answer for you all (before this thread dies out, but a detailed reply later).
Firstly, we need to understand what is an insurgency: going by the international definitions for it, it is a movement for a political aim, that aims to destabilize the existing political establishment in place and which may or may not resort to violent means to achieve its end.
Also even our own history has examples of insurgencies for our benefit: remember Shah Waliullah's movement, Swat during colonial rule, Bengal and the freedom movement started as insurgencies.
Nasim Zehra agreed does not provide a solution but she rightly points out the need for transparency (from politicians and the military) which is lacking in what is happening in the country's north-west.
Here's a brief overview from the US's COIN manual on achieving the same. The security forces in Pakistan it seems to be dealing the insuregency as if it's in the first stage, while the insurgents are clearly in the second phase.
"COIN operations combine offensive, defensive, and stability operations to achieve the stable and secure environment needed for effective governance, essential services, and economic development. The focus of COIN operations generally progresses through three indistinct stages that can be envisioned with a
medical analogy:
􀁺 Stop the bleeding.
􀁺 Inpatient carerecovery.
􀁺 Outpatient caremovement to self-sufficiency.
Understanding this evolution and recognizing the relative maturity of the operational environment are important to the conduct (planning, preparation, execution, and assessment) of COIN operations. This knowledge allows commanders to ensure that their activities are appropriate to the current situation.
INITIAL STAGE: STOP THE BLEEDING
Initially, COIN operations are similar to emergency first aid for the patient. The goal is to protect the population, break the insurgents initiative and momentum, and set the conditions for further engagement. Limited offensive operations may be undertaken, but are complemented by stability operations focused on civil security. During this stage, friendly and enemy information needed to complete the common operational picture is collected and initial running estimates are developed. Counterinsurgents also begin shaping the information environment, including the expectations of the local populace.
MIDDLE STAGE: INPATIENT CARERECOVERY
5-5. The middle stage is characterized by efforts aimed at assisting the patient through long-term recovery or restoration of healthwhich in this case means achieving stability. Counterinsurgents are most active here, working aggressively along all logical lines of operations (LLOs). The desire in this stage is to develop and build resident capability and capacity in the HN government and security forces. As civil security is assured, focus expands to include governance, provision of essential services, and stimulation of
economic development. Relationships with HN counterparts in the government and security forces and with the local populace are developed and strengthened. These relationships increase the flow of human and other types of intelligence. This intelligence facilitates measured offensive operations in conjunction with the HN security forces. The host nation increases its legitimacy through providing security, expanding effective governance, providing essential services, and achieving incremental success in meeting public
expectations.
LATE STAGE: OUTPATIENT CAREMOVEMENT TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Stage three is characterized by the expansion of stability operations across contested regions, ideally using HN forces. The main goal for this stage is to transition responsibility for COIN operations to HN
leadership. In this stage, the multinational force works with the host nation in an increasingly supporting role, turning over responsibility wherever and whenever appropriate. Quick reaction forces and fire support capabilities may still be needed in some areas, but more functions along all LLOs are performed by HN forces with the low-key assistance of multinational advisors. As the security, governing, and economic capacity of the host nation increases, the need for foreign assistance is reduced. At this stage, the host nation has established or reestablished the systems needed to provide effective and stable government that sustains the rule of law. The government secures its citizens continuously, sustains and builds legitimacy through effective governance, has effectively isolated the insurgency, and can manage and meet the expectations of the nations entire population.
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(A hurried reply, more later)
Firstly, we need to understand what is an insurgency: going by the international definitions for it, it is a movement for a political aim, that aims to destabilize the existing political establishment in place and which may or may not resort to violent means to achieve its end.
Also even our own history has examples of insurgencies for our benefit: remember Shah Waliullah's movement, Swat during colonial rule, Bengal and the freedom movement started as insurgencies.
Nasim Zehra agreed does not provide a solution but she rightly points out the need for transparency (from politicians and the military) which is lacking in what is happening in the country's north-west.
Here's a brief overview from the US's COIN manual on achieving the same. The security forces in Pakistan it seems to be dealing the insuregency as if it's in the first stage, while the insurgents are clearly in the second phase.
"COIN operations combine offensive, defensive, and stability operations to achieve the stable and secure environment needed for effective governance, essential services, and economic development. The focus of COIN operations generally progresses through three indistinct stages that can be envisioned with a
medical analogy:
􀁺 Stop the bleeding.
􀁺 Inpatient carerecovery.
􀁺 Outpatient caremovement to self-sufficiency.
Understanding this evolution and recognizing the relative maturity of the operational environment are important to the conduct (planning, preparation, execution, and assessment) of COIN operations. This knowledge allows commanders to ensure that their activities are appropriate to the current situation.
INITIAL STAGE: STOP THE BLEEDING
Initially, COIN operations are similar to emergency first aid for the patient. The goal is to protect the population, break the insurgents initiative and momentum, and set the conditions for further engagement. Limited offensive operations may be undertaken, but are complemented by stability operations focused on civil security. During this stage, friendly and enemy information needed to complete the common operational picture is collected and initial running estimates are developed. Counterinsurgents also begin shaping the information environment, including the expectations of the local populace.
MIDDLE STAGE: INPATIENT CARERECOVERY
5-5. The middle stage is characterized by efforts aimed at assisting the patient through long-term recovery or restoration of healthwhich in this case means achieving stability. Counterinsurgents are most active here, working aggressively along all logical lines of operations (LLOs). The desire in this stage is to develop and build resident capability and capacity in the HN government and security forces. As civil security is assured, focus expands to include governance, provision of essential services, and stimulation of
economic development. Relationships with HN counterparts in the government and security forces and with the local populace are developed and strengthened. These relationships increase the flow of human and other types of intelligence. This intelligence facilitates measured offensive operations in conjunction with the HN security forces. The host nation increases its legitimacy through providing security, expanding effective governance, providing essential services, and achieving incremental success in meeting public
expectations.
LATE STAGE: OUTPATIENT CAREMOVEMENT TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Stage three is characterized by the expansion of stability operations across contested regions, ideally using HN forces. The main goal for this stage is to transition responsibility for COIN operations to HN
leadership. In this stage, the multinational force works with the host nation in an increasingly supporting role, turning over responsibility wherever and whenever appropriate. Quick reaction forces and fire support capabilities may still be needed in some areas, but more functions along all LLOs are performed by HN forces with the low-key assistance of multinational advisors. As the security, governing, and economic capacity of the host nation increases, the need for foreign assistance is reduced. At this stage, the host nation has established or reestablished the systems needed to provide effective and stable government that sustains the rule of law. The government secures its citizens continuously, sustains and builds legitimacy through effective governance, has effectively isolated the insurgency, and can manage and meet the expectations of the nations entire population.
---------------------
(A hurried reply, more later)