Mullen's praise to PA

[Lockheed F-16]

WASHINGTON: The operations in Swat and other areas of the NWFP have encouraged the United States to believe that Pakistan is capable to conducting a similar offensive in South Waziristan, America’s top military official told a briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a gathering at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies that the United States was also more focussed on Afghanistan and Pakistan now than ever before.

‘I’m very encouraged by what I see, based on their recent operations in Swat Valley, and before that, in Mohmand, Buner and Bajaur,’ said the admiral when asked if Pakistan had the will and the capacity of going further into North and South Waziristan.

'If you and I were having a conversation a year ago about this, there was a great deal of criticism about the Pakistani military not moving at all in the west,’ he added.

The US focus, he said, had also shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan and Pakistan. ‘The main effort has now shifted to Afghanistan and the regional approach to include Afghanistan and Pakistan. And really the broader strategic approach there is so critical,’ he added.

Responding to another question, Admiral Mullen said he believed Pakistan’s army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani was committed to this war against the militants.

‘In my view — he understands — and I think the leadership in Pakistan understands — they have a very serious threat internal to their country, and they’re addressing that.’

Admiral Mullen recalled that during a recent visit to Pakistan, he visited two areas where the Pakistani army has established counter-insurgency training centres.

Since then, Gen Kayani has established similar centres throughout his force, he said.

 

[Bill Longley]

PA has done what US and NATO failed to do with all their might

Pakistan Army with less resources defeated an enemy which gets help from Islamist extremist groups and foreign secret agencies .

 

[araz]

PA has done what US and NATO failed to do with all their might

Pakistan Army with less resources defeated an enemy which gets help from Islamist extremist groups and foreign secret agencies .

Bill
While PA has done quite well to begin with, this war is far from over. It may have been that the taliban have melted in the background, and wll continue their guerrilla activity. The key to this conundrum will be the way the government handles IDPs. If the IDPs are handled well and efficiently and compensated well for their losses, it might become difficult for the taliban tpo gather the support they need for continued guerrilla activity. The gripe that I have is that the attitude of our high ups is soo poor, that they will only think of the short term, with no long term planning and will disenchant the people and in turn play into the hands of the talibans.
Regards
Araz

 

[Bill Longley]

I think the military operation was marvalous. Army targeted Militants with accuracy.
Reporters and journalists whom i have talked say Swati people are very happy with army. At one side Army is fighting militants and on other helping locals

Unfortunately Indians are trying to exploit the war on terror . At one side when our soldiers and nation is sacrifiseing , their propoganda is consentrated on proveing TTP militants as Pashtun freedom fighters
look what ex RAW chief have to say

Widespread Pashtun anger against the US and the Pakistani military continues to be the main motivating force of the TTP. There are no signs----at least not yet--- that feelings of Pashtun nationalism influence the TTP's operations. The TTP sees itself more as a Pashtun self-defence movement to protect the Pashtuns against attempts to change their way of life by the Pakistani authorities allegedly at the instance of the US. The TTP asserts the right of the Pashtuns to have their lives and criminal justice system regulated by the Sharia if they so desire without being dictated to on this subject by non-Pashtun elements.

http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers33/paper3285.html

on the other hand respectable Pashtun leaders like LALA SWATI of ANP are telling pashtuns that "Their national Army is fighting for their freedom.... as chinese say every conflict is oppurtunity
we are mashaAllah winning at one side and on other pashtun nationalists are realizing that Indians are Non Pashtun Afghans are the greatest threat to them

 

[seekers]

Can anybody think how the scenario has changed in Swat by Pakistan Army.More than year spend in Swat has paid no result except casualties of their own jawans.
How this table was turned????

This is an Open question, can anybody answer???????

 

[Bill Longley]

yes it has simple answer

we are luckey we have Army chief like Genral Ashfaq Kiayani

In past Army never went with clear goals
this time CInC gave them clear objectives and also their was effort in field of Psy Warfare.
they moved scientifically, and distroyed militants and won

 

[seekers]

yes! we are lucky for get rid of past general.
his unclear goals would disclose soon.

 

[Bill Longley]

you see maintanance of Aim is the most imprtant principal of war.
this depands on military and political leadership

at present we have strong leadership which is why we are getting victories

 

[seekers]

Mr. Bill! he was Double agent. this was not flaw of Army or political leadership.

 

[ajpirzada]

y we are winning today is because ppl of swat are on our side. we gave them wat they wanted; shariah. they didnt have any reason left to protest against GoP. when shariah was implimented, talibans didnt stop their activity thus exposing their real face. many of those who were supportin taliban later turned against them.
army operation was carried out tactfully but equal credit also goes to earlier political manoeuvring.