A few days back... We would have answered 'NO' to the first two questions for US as well... That's the beauty of Militarycraft... everything is not always known... The other important point (other than capabilities) is the terrain of strike... A mountaneous trail makes it very difficult to keep track of an incoming (or outgoing) foreign machine (even visually, as the sound echoes back from all the directions)... If India does do it (and I see strinking terror camps as the only logical point for that kind of a strategy), the mountains of J&K could work to its benefits as most of the targetted area will be in Pakistani side of Kashmir... I don't think anyone would think of a US like surgical strike in Mainland Pakistan (a la Lahore or Islamabad), as we won't get the same kind of 'love' that Pakistan has still shown towards US, unless we know of some weak radar areas specifically and work on that kind of a strategy... However, so far as I understand, the service chief simply said that 'Yes, we do have the capability' and that does not imply that he wants to 'attack' Pakistan. And with due respect, I have not even questioned if your radars indeed are as reliable as you would like to believe (And I do believe that the same question can be asked for our forces as well) because Americans have demonstrated that otherwise...
Having said that, I think everyone would agree that a surgical strike from any side (though I do not know, why PA or PAF would ever need that for) will have serious consequences including an obvious larger sized ratallioation (and including a risk for it to escalate to a full blown war)... Some would say, 'Stike first and wait for international intervention to avoid a retalliation'... I don't think that is possible between India and Pakistan. So, retalliation is the only certain recourse for either side and therefore, anyone who does this first, will obviously be ready for a retort in 'kind' and would have plans for that, for sure!... So, according to me, the answer to your question is that, it is possible for either side to have a surgical strike inside other's territory. But, I don't think that anyone will step into that kind of a minefield in a normal scenario... Plus, the Administration on Indian side has been known to be a bit of a chickenheart on this issue and unless they are literally forced by public (which could happen in case of another large sized incident), I don't see it happening... if they do it, i am sure they will be ready for an escalated conflict...
But, I wish to ask a larger question here... Stealth Chopper or a sling shot... How can Pakistan allow her soverignity to be challenged? How can US infiltrate your country, run a full scale mission, get away with that , demonize your secret service agency (that they can not depend on it), threaten you with an aid cut off and and still use Pakistan for it's operation... And all you politicians and beaurocrats are doing are threatning them? If the real intention of public at large is against the US of A, then why is a country tolerating them and their antics?
People here are talking about using the tail of the rotor to make a plane and some said (here on another thread) that we atleast got something out it, as if that was an achievement... But, where is the questioning of the government as to why the hell did they allow it and what are the doing about it? Isn't this the base of the concept of patriotism that in your own country you can not be told what to do or how to react?
I am sure what the situation would have been, had this been India attacking... We would have declared a war already... But, then, why is Pakistan's national ego so 'soft' (don't want to use any demeaning word) when it comes to Americans? How can you believe that the same politicians will show spine tomorrow if they attack again... ?
Don't mean rhetoric and would appreciate real replies...
