General Kiyani's straight talk

[Neo]

General Kiyani's straight talk ​

Better late than never. The warning Chief of Army Staff General Kiyani sounded to the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan to stay away from the Pakistani soil, was long overdue.

It has finally come, as it became almost imperative in the last couple of days when the US Administration unfolded the blueprint of a more aggressive strategy for military operations against the Taliban on "both sides of Pakistan-Afghanistan border". First it was President Bush who justified his move to send additional troops to Afghanistan, arguing that Pakistan had emerged as one the three "major battlefields" - the other two being Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They are all theatres in the same overall struggle", he told a gathering at the US National Defence University. This was on Tuesday, less than a week after a US forces-led ground assault inside Pakistan in which 20 Pakistanis, including women and children, were killed.

The Pakistani side offered a confused response: As the parliament unanimously condemned the brutal assault, the government expressed its helplessness. Somehow Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar was convinced that 'there must have been something that invited the assault' while the newly sworn-in President Zardari thoughtlessly remarked the land incursions were permitted under the UN Charter.

But what really forced the CoAS General Kiyani to come up with his warning was the lingering refrain in the western media that the Pakistan military high command in its hush-hush meeting with the American generalship on the USS Abraham Lincoln last month had given a carte blanche to conduct raids inside Pakistan.

The fact that the US-led ground raid was followed by a series of missile strikes at suspected places in Pakistan almost on daily basis only strengthened the speculated give-in by the Pakistani side.

The truth, however, is that the Pakistani commanders had convinced their interlocutors on the USS Abraham Lincoln of their commitment to fight militancy on their own, so much so that the US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen enthusiastically conceded at a Pentagon media briefing that "Pakistan's focus is where it needs to be".

This was clearly in recognition of the stepped-up military operations by the Pakistani security forces in Bajaur Agency and Swat valley, which have not relented even during the holy month of Ramazan. Given the losses in terms of casualties of security forces and civilians and massive displacements of non-combatant population, Pakistan is paying a much heavier price than the US-led coalition in this so-called war on terror.

Seen in the backdrop of the latest turns and twists in US perceptions, it becomes evident that all along Pakistan was being led along the garden path. It was someone else's war foolishly joined by an unelected leadership in return for the pat on the back with exhortation: 'Well done. Do more, it's not enough yet'.

Thanks to General Kiyani's clearly worded statement, it should be known to the United States and its other allies in Afghanistan that strikes across border would not be tolerated. Such an activity is not covered by the agreed 'rules of engagement' as against the oft-repeated claim from the other side.

But, more importantly, the Army Chief has notified to both the Pakistan government and its supporters in the West that it should be a multi-pronged approach and not merely military operation that would help win this war against militancy.

And it would take time: "There are no quick fixes...Display strategic patience and help the other side (Pakistan) the way they want it rather than adopting a unilateral approach which may be counter-productive", he told the coalition partners led by the United States - where the contenders for the White House are hell-bent on outbidding each other in promising more war in this region.

The lame-duck Bush administration is desperately looking for a trophy to claim a mention in the American history, and can it be more rewarding than capturing bin Laden or Al-Zawahiri who the US forces think is in the mountains straddling the Pak-Afghan border. So much presumptuous is the US administration's perspective on the Taliban and their struggle to retrieve Afghanistan.

Another anniversary of the 9/11 tragic incidents has passed by, and the United States government has yet to prove its case to the world at large. Is that the war on terror that Pakistan is expected to fight against its own people, and win it for the United States?

 

[fatman17]

General Kayani Must Not Blink and Pakistan's Taliban Are CIA

Sunday, 14 September 2008 02:36 Pakistan Daily: Breaking News, Pakistan, World, Politics, Business & Sports News

Now the ball is in General Kayani’s court; will he be the one to blink first? Will he be forced by his civilian masters – Zardari and Gilani not to follow up on his promise and become subject of ridicule? Clearly, the U.S. is stung by Pakistan discovering who is the real enemy.
Pakistan has decided to liquidate the so-called ‘Pakistani Taliban’ and is succeeding with popular support. It has become apparent that the insurgency in the FATA and elsewhere in NWFP is aided and abetted by the U.S. It wants to weaken the control of the federal government over the provinces and regions of Pakistan and it does not care whether it is achieved by Islamists or by ethnic nationalists. It supports the BLA as well as Baitullah Mehsud. It maintains its contacts with the MQM, the ANP, Baloch Nationalists as well as the JUI. It came to court the PPP as it concluded it was not overly concerned with ‘national interests’.

Pakistan is nervous; it cannot believe that the United States can turn on its ally so fast and so easy. President Bush has proclaimed a new war theater in Pakistan alongside Iraq and Afghanistan. But President Bush is dead wrong; the nature of the war in the three countries in quite different.

In Iraq, the resistance to U.S. occupation is organized by sectarian militias that are not excluded from participation in politics; they even have representation in government.
In Afghanistan, the resistance is carried out primarily by the Pashtun majority, which is represented in government only by traitors and turncoats.

Pakistan is not occupied. In Pakistan, the main terrorist organization - Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – has political aims and it seeks to capture and control territory. The TTP is sponsored by the CIA, which provides it money, weapons and equipment.

All the three countries – Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan – are similar in that the American aim is the same: to fragment the nation and impose unpopular/weak governments that will bend to U.S. will.

Although the story came out several weeks ago, the people of Pakistan are still stunned by the revelation that the TTP is CIA sponsored. The public first came to know of this in the newspapers that during the visit of Prime Minister Gilani to the U.S., his staff showed evidence of CIA support to TTP.

It Mr. Gilani some courage to tell U.S. that the ‘foreign support’ to Baitullah Mehsud came from the U.S. One thought it would put the U.S. on the defensive that those being accused and targeted by America for cross-border raids have been trained and supported by the U.S. Instead, the U.S. ratcheted up its propaganda against Pakistan. Baitullah Mehsud moves freely throughout the region promoting terrorism that will justify American actions. His men possess the most-advanced communication and possibly even satellite intelligence.

Pakistan army took a long time to read the signs because it just could not believe that the U.S. could resort to such diabolical stratagem against its ‘ally’.

The Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, announced on September 10 that the coalition forces would not be allowed to operate inside Pakistan. His statement came within hours of the testimony by U.S. Chief of Joint Staff, Admiral Mullen, that the strategy for the war in Afghanistan had been revised and that targets in Pakistan would be struck without prior notice or warning to Pakistan. General Kayani expressed outrage at the U.S. helicopter raid near Angor Adda on the Pakistan Afghan border that lasted 30-minute; three houses owned by the Wazir tribesmen were the target of the raid that killed 23 people, including women and children. What added insult to injury was the report that Prime Minister Gilani's National Security Adviser Major General (retd) Mehmud Durrani formally wrote to his U.S. counterpart Steven Hadley, on September 5, warning that Pakistan would not allow any foreign forces to operate on its territory. In his letter, Durrani made it clear that the rules of engagement of the coalition forces were well defined and there was no provision that allowed the US/NATO forces in Afghanistan to operate inside Pakistan.

On Thursday, September 11, the Pakistan Army was given permission to retaliate against any action by foreign troops inside the country. The same day, the Pakistan ambassador to the U.S. also met some national security advisers of the Bush administration and got the assurance that the U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan would not operate inside Pakistan or launch any strike. As if to rub salt in the wound, the same night the coalition forces launched another missile attack on Miranshah, killing more than 12 people.

What is happening? What is the U.S. up to? More importantly, what can Pakistan do?

Clearly, the U.S. is stung by Pakistan discovering who is the real enemy. Pakistan has decided to liquidate the TTP and is succeeding with popular support. The U.S. should have been satisfied that the Pakistan Army is pursuing the TTP, but it is not. Clearly, the TTP is the excuse not the target. The American objective is to destabilize Pakistan. I refer to the article titled ‘The Destabilization of Pakistan’ by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky of Global Research, Canada, in which it was revealed, before Feb. 18 elections, that U.S. sees an opportunity in the elections to advance its agenda and is supporting the terrorists inside Pakistan towards that end. He wrote:

“Washington will push for a compliant political leadership, with no commitment to the national interest, a leadership which will serve US imperial interests, while concurrently contributing under the disguise of "decentralization", to the weakening of the central government and the fracture of Pakistan's fragile federal structure.”…. "U.S. Special Forces are expected to vastly expand their presence. The official justification and pretext… to extend the "war on terrorism". Concurrently, to justify its counter-terrorism program, Washington is also beefing up its covert support to the "terrorists."

It has become apparent that the insurgency in the FATA and elsewhere in NWFP is aided and abetted by the US. It wants to weaken the control of the federal government over the provinces and regions of Pakistan and it does not care whether it is achieved by Islamists or by ethnic nationalists. It supports the BLA as well as Baitullah Mehsud. It maintains its contacts with the MQM, the ANP, Baloch Nationalists as well as the JUI. It came to court the PPP as it concluded it was not overly concerned with ‘national interests’. The economic conditions have been deteriorating so fast that the economy is being described as close to ‘melt-down’. The only remaining condition yet to be met for ‘destabilization’ to become unstoppable is the ‘demonization’ of the Pakistan Army.

That explains why General Kayani’s defiant statement was quickly followed by another Predator attack. Now the ball is in General Kayani’s court; will he be the one to blink first? Will he be forced by his civilian masters – Zardari and Gilani – not to follow up on his promise and become subject of ridicule? But Pakistan has options. First and foremost, the objectives of the so-called ‘war on terror’ would have to be revised; it must henceforth deal exclusively with clearing FATA and Swat of TTP, and pacifying the area.

The approach of the people of Pakistan towards the U.S. has been transformed by the raid on Pakistan’s soil. Until now, they thought that the U.S. presence in Afghanistan was no threat to Pakistan. They had a benign view of the war despite the horrendous civilian casualties. They thought the war brought funds for development and democracy in its wake. Now the support for U.S. presence in the region is zero. The people see the United States as the main enemy; the so-called extremists are the proxies and surrogates of the USA.

Second, the firm forthrightness of the Army Chief has made him popular and brought admiration for the armed forces, instead of being demonized. The PPP, which felt secure in power after the elevation of its co-chairman to the office of the President, is likely to feel threatened. The Prime Minster has already said that his Government would deal with the situation through diplomacy. But if the bombs continue to rain in FATA and more helicopter raids occur, the people would be outraged and demand retaliation. What would the Government do? It is time to be cool and act; diplomacy rarely works when it is mere talk. Since most of the raids are by air, Pakistan needs to deploy anti-aircraft weapons to protect outposts and villages. The U.S. and NATO would need to be informed that violation of air space would be considered ‘hostile’ and dealt with as such.

U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan depend on supply from or transit through Pakistan for a number of things. None need to stop but accidents do happen. After all, the U.S. did not solicit the assassination of Benazir Bhutto; they just let Baitullah Mehsud go through with what he was planning anyway. After deployment of anti-aircraft weapons on the border and ‘go slow’ strike on the tail from Karachi to Khybar, the ball would be in the U.S. court. It could take another step on the escalation ladder or sense might prevail.

However, Pakistan cannot afford to blink first. There will be rows between the civil and military leadership and it is hard to tell if the military advice would be accepted. But the Zardari Administration is already on the wrong side of the public opinion on the issue of restoration of the judges made dysfunctional by General Musharraf. He will be on the wrong side of the public opinion once again if he did nothing in the face of mounting casualties of soldiers and civilians a the hands of the USA.

http://www.thedaily.pk

 

[Jliu]

General Kiyani's straight talk ​

Better late than never. The warning Chief of Army Staff General Kiyani sounded to the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan to stay away from the Pakistani soil, was long overdue.

It has finally come, as it became almost imperative in the last couple of days when the US Administration unfolded the blueprint of a more aggressive strategy for military operations against the Taliban on "both sides of Pakistan-Afghanistan border". First it was President Bush who justified his move to send additional troops to Afghanistan, arguing that Pakistan had emerged as one the three "major battlefields" - the other two being Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They are all theatres in the same overall struggle", he told a gathering at the US National Defence University. This was on Tuesday, less than a week after a US forces-led ground assault inside Pakistan in which 20 Pakistanis, including women and children, were killed.

The Pakistani side offered a confused response: As the parliament unanimously condemned the brutal assault, the government expressed its helplessness. Somehow Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar was convinced that 'there must have been something that invited the assault' while the newly sworn-in President Zardari thoughtlessly remarked the land incursions were permitted under the UN Charter.

But what really forced the CoAS General Kiyani to come up with his warning was the lingering refrain in the western media that the Pakistan military high command in its hush-hush meeting with the American generalship on the USS Abraham Lincoln last month had given a carte blanche to conduct raids inside Pakistan.

The fact that the US-led ground raid was followed by a series of missile strikes at suspected places in Pakistan almost on daily basis only strengthened the speculated give-in by the Pakistani side.

The truth, however, is that the Pakistani commanders had convinced their interlocutors on the USS Abraham Lincoln of their commitment to fight militancy on their own, so much so that the US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen enthusiastically conceded at a Pentagon media briefing that "Pakistan's focus is where it needs to be".

This was clearly in recognition of the stepped-up military operations by the Pakistani security forces in Bajaur Agency and Swat valley, which have not relented even during the holy month of Ramazan. Given the losses in terms of casualties of security forces and civilians and massive displacements of non-combatant population, Pakistan is paying a much heavier price than the US-led coalition in this so-called war on terror.

Seen in the backdrop of the latest turns and twists in US perceptions, it becomes evident that all along Pakistan was being led along the garden path. It was someone else's war foolishly joined by an unelected leadership in return for the pat on the back with exhortation: 'Well done. Do more, it's not enough yet'.

Thanks to General Kiyani's clearly worded statement, it should be known to the United States and its other allies in Afghanistan that strikes across border would not be tolerated. Such an activity is not covered by the agreed 'rules of engagement' as against the oft-repeated claim from the other side.

But, more importantly, the Army Chief has notified to both the Pakistan government and its supporters in the West that it should be a multi-pronged approach and not merely military operation that would help win this war against militancy.

And it would take time: "There are no quick fixes...Display strategic patience and help the other side (Pakistan) the way they want it rather than adopting a unilateral approach which may be counter-productive", he told the coalition partners led by the United States - where the contenders for the White House are hell-bent on outbidding each other in promising more war in this region.

The lame-duck Bush administration is desperately looking for a trophy to claim a mention in the American history, and can it be more rewarding than capturing bin Laden or Al-Zawahiri who the US forces think is in the mountains straddling the Pak-Afghan border. So much presumptuous is the US administration's perspective on the Taliban and their struggle to retrieve Afghanistan.

Another anniversary of the 9/11 tragic incidents has passed by, and the United States government has yet to prove its case to the world at large. Is that the war on terror that Pakistan is expected to fight against its own people, and win it for the United States?

Collateral missile strikes are counterproductive in any COIN operation regardless of which enemy combatant given the propensity of the mainly Pashtun Taliban in using civilians as collateral-handing them a propaganda victory. These unilateral strikes are a product of the Bush admin's botched handling of the Afghan campaign as well as an outgrowth of political frustration manifested in the form of Hellfire rounds. The correct response would be to utilise PA heliborne assets and SOF in joint operations to neutralise Taliban leaders by direct action or abduction combined with a concerted hearts+minds op offering benefits to disaffected tribesmen to fully participate in the Pakistani state.

 

[fatman17]

Collateral missile strikes are counterproductive in any COIN operation regardless of which enemy combatant given the propensity of the mainly Pashtun Taliban in using civilians as collateral-handing them a propaganda victory. These unilateral strikes are a product of the Bush admin's botched handling of the Afghan campaign as well as an outgrowth of political frustration manifested in the form of Hellfire rounds. The correct response would be to utilise PA heliborne assets and SOF in joint operations to neutralise Taliban leaders by direct action or abduction combined with a concerted hearts+minds op offering benefits to disaffected tribesmen to fully participate in the Pakistani state.

Now Jliu this is more like it!

 

[batmannow]

No, more, words needed , pakistani nation wants to see action.
i , certnly like to critisize our hounrable COAS , but i thought , its not the right time to do so, as he is already in termendous preasure.
but , surly i would like to see more comprehensive security plan in action with the worst situations in the mind.there is a famous saying, that in the war, never think that your enemy is week!

 

[Spring Onion]

hey Guys do you Know people in Waziristan have installed pictures of Kiyani at their houses.
A good number of people have taken out a rally carrying posters of Kiyani, appreciating him for his stance.

 

[Kasrkin]

Wow, cool.

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

although we know we are losing our senses and going nuts, we are still incredibly happy. weird isn't it, the members of all pakistani military forums are all celebrating.

 

[batmannow]

hey Guys do you Know people in Waziristan have installed pictures of Kiyani at their houses.
A good number of people have taken out a rally carrying posters of Kiyani, appreciating him for his stance.

Dear jana, mam
it, shouldbe in lahore , in karachi, in islamabad.
i, guss frist good news, well good luck COAS.
just ,plz show some confrimation reports.

 

[Spring Onion]

Dear jana, mam
it, shouldbe in lahore , in karachi, in islamabad.
i, guss frist good news, well good luck COAS.
just ,plz show some confrimation reports.

Express had reported that yesterday.

While someone from Waziristan told me about that.

And BTW didnt you read the news about Tribesmen and army action against US helicopters today who were trying to drop commandos in Waziristan.

 

[batmannow]

Express had reported that yesterday.

While someone from Waziristan told me about that.

And BTW didnt you read the news about Tribesmen and army action against US helicopters today who were trying to drop commandos in Waziristan.

thanks, mam
plz check, my crazy input in other post!
i just, want to see, these allies troops, being grilled... and barb qued, or famous CHAPPLII KEBAB? what do you like!

 

[Spring Onion]

thanks, mam
plz check, my crazy input in other post!
i just, want to see, these allies troops, being grilled... and barb qued, or famous CHAPPLII KEBAB? what do you like!

tikka karahi with love