@Irfan Baloch
Let me rephrase my question, how difficult is it to ensure that the identity of the troops was not revealed to others especially when using civilian transport, as weapons can reveal the kind of unit in transit, especially to an experienced guy
Other part you mentioned to which I agree completely, is the specialized role part, for example tracking in a particular terrain, local forces will have upper hand due to local knowledge and experience.
Have a look at the picture and keep it in mind while reading the rest of the paragraph.
Can the troops hide themselves among civilians when they want to? How easy it is to conceal themselves and their equipment/ mission from the prying eyes?
Very easy for the special forces that conduct the covert operations because that is part of their training.
Now the picture? Over 4000 vehicles pass through using number of routes in and out of FATA/ Afghanistan and Pakistani settled areas at any given day. It excludes NATO supplies and the movement of the IDPs their relief supplies and supplies for the forces conducting the operations. Official trade between Pakistan Afghanistan stands at over 3 Billion and unofficial / illegal trade is tens fold higher.
Point? The movement of people and goods requires this very limited number of roads. Far from being desolate place, the roads can be very congested and gridlocked just due to sheer and unprecedented traffic or any natural obstacles. So people who are trained not to be seen or identified can easily loose themselves among the crowd especially when they have their very own civilian vehicles and those that are going to “check” the traffic look the other way. Need to know is a very simple rule, FC, levis, friendly militias assist in such movements and only know as much as they need to. They might not know the details, timing or even the destination and any other inquisitive individuals that serve as scouts for the TTP get the **** off nothing to see here asshole look or treatment as the case maybe.
To be honest with you, I didn’t go into details about how the troops moved unnoticed among the public to reach their destination. They didn’t use a direct route and didn’t put on anything which would have screamed their identity and intention.
See this picture below? It was SSG colonel leading the raid on red Mosque. Apart from that M4 he didn’t look any different that the inhabitants of that place. Also read about the lookout of SAS members that conducted the raid on Iranian embassy back in the 80s, they looked like hippies with long hair. so in short the participants of a covert operation can put any drab (apart
from the gillies suit) that will meld them into the environment. which can include local dress as well
beards and moustaches. So no one recognised them as they prepared and closed in to their target until the time they breached the building.
I some how missed it---but anyway a great job. Thank you.
glad you eventually found it. there was a lot of effort and I was not even happy with it but over all got the positive response. the person in question is an ace, he was planning to train the SSG but since 16 Dec he is on the hunt again. hopefully my next instalment will be more explosive and intense whenever we will nab the big TTP fishes and if I am fortunate to get hold of him.
@Irfan Baloch . Just a query is it safe to post details of operating procedures here, as much as a common man can learn here I think those who hate us can learn more.
everything discussed is a text book procedure of COIN and special ops of the world. there is nothing betraying or unique to SSG which can be used as something unknown by the enemy.
it is instead a message to our enemies that we will get them eventually, they can hide in whatever hole, cave, diplomat centre, madrassah, mosque or house but that wont last for longer.