pkpatriotic
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Operation Dragon Strike and Pakistan
October 05, 2010
By Bassam Javed
The much talked about offensive in Kandahar has finally been declared as launched. The time leading to the much perceived offensive was effectively utilized by both the coalition forces and by the Taliban, by coalition forces to comb and soften the area to ease the ultimate offensive and by the Taliban to devise a methodology to deal with the same.
The coalition forces effectively worked on the psychological part of the offensive in the preceding months by engaging Afghan elders to win over their confidence with concurrent collection of vital intelligence through heavily paid moles and exploiting the electronic gadgetry. For example, free solar powered radio sets were distributed amongst the locals of all ages to influence the locals thinking.
The Taliban on their part are likely to adopt the same tactics as they did for Marjah offensive. They would traditionally sound their presence along the way by engaging the coalition troops here and there with adoption of major tactical move to sleep out most of the offensive. The tactics had paid off then with very little losses and that too were suffered by the splinter groups who randomly engaged coalition forces.
This time around also, the coalition forces are not likely to face stiff resistance during their bid to penetrate the Taliban territory but with all the tribal traditional indicators, their post offensive presence would be the testing time for them.
General Patraeus proclamations of Taliban leaders reaching out to the Afghan government is a common psychological ploy that has been historically adopted by the invaders to create dissensions amongst the opposing forces.
The same tactics had brought General Patraeus accolades when he helped wrap up the Iraq war. In case of Afghanistan, it might be slightly different as the big and relevant Taliban that really matter to peace in Afghanistan are being overlooked.
Operation Dragon Strike is by far the first large scale offensive of the Afghan war as it aims to strike the home of Taliban. Around 8,000 US soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team and the 101st Airborne Division and as many as 10,000 Afghan soldiers besides some from other countries are actively participating in this offensive. Heavy equipment like 72 tonne Assault Breacher Vehicles is a common seen. They tasted their first dose of what is coming their way through a stiff resistance put up by a group of Taliban at the nearby Zahri district. Lot of casualties have already occurred in that very encounter though all of them were civilians barring may be a few. The US military claimed responsibility for killing of scores of what it termed as militants.
The Operation Dragon Strike in Kandahar in all the probability will force many Afghan insurgents cross over into Pakistan despite the assurances given other wise by ISAF not to let it happen.
The first blatant act of violation of the sovereignty of Pakistani territory occurred in a related pursuit of insurgents by ISAF on Saturday. The act only went to provide a surge in the wide spread anti Americanism amongst Pakistanis.
Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan had naively talked on non-recognition of American aid by the Pakistanis to confront the devastation caused by the floods. In the midst of Infringement of the Pakistani sovereignty, drone attacks, courting Pakistans arch rival India are some of the points that tarnishes the American image and then to speak of the recognition, is just dewy.
The irony is that after having sacrificed so much in Americas adventure in this part of South Asia in terms of life and blood, Pakistan once again stands out as a big looser in its engagement with the United States.
In the garb of fictitious assumptions that fresh attacks for Europe and America are being planned from inside Pakistan, the Nato and ISAF forces have shamelessly started violating Pakistans sovereignty at will. The first breach of the sovereign territory of Pakistan took place on 26th September and the second on 29th that killed around thirty five people including security personnel.
The trend shows that the practice will continue till the offensive in Kandahar is completed. This has to be checked firmly through bold and difficult decisions or else taking lead from these outrageous violations of a sovereign territory some other countries may become bolder also and take on other countries on various pretexts.
October 05, 2010
By Bassam Javed
The much talked about offensive in Kandahar has finally been declared as launched. The time leading to the much perceived offensive was effectively utilized by both the coalition forces and by the Taliban, by coalition forces to comb and soften the area to ease the ultimate offensive and by the Taliban to devise a methodology to deal with the same.
The coalition forces effectively worked on the psychological part of the offensive in the preceding months by engaging Afghan elders to win over their confidence with concurrent collection of vital intelligence through heavily paid moles and exploiting the electronic gadgetry. For example, free solar powered radio sets were distributed amongst the locals of all ages to influence the locals thinking.
The Taliban on their part are likely to adopt the same tactics as they did for Marjah offensive. They would traditionally sound their presence along the way by engaging the coalition troops here and there with adoption of major tactical move to sleep out most of the offensive. The tactics had paid off then with very little losses and that too were suffered by the splinter groups who randomly engaged coalition forces.
This time around also, the coalition forces are not likely to face stiff resistance during their bid to penetrate the Taliban territory but with all the tribal traditional indicators, their post offensive presence would be the testing time for them.
General Patraeus proclamations of Taliban leaders reaching out to the Afghan government is a common psychological ploy that has been historically adopted by the invaders to create dissensions amongst the opposing forces.
The same tactics had brought General Patraeus accolades when he helped wrap up the Iraq war. In case of Afghanistan, it might be slightly different as the big and relevant Taliban that really matter to peace in Afghanistan are being overlooked.
Operation Dragon Strike is by far the first large scale offensive of the Afghan war as it aims to strike the home of Taliban. Around 8,000 US soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team and the 101st Airborne Division and as many as 10,000 Afghan soldiers besides some from other countries are actively participating in this offensive. Heavy equipment like 72 tonne Assault Breacher Vehicles is a common seen. They tasted their first dose of what is coming their way through a stiff resistance put up by a group of Taliban at the nearby Zahri district. Lot of casualties have already occurred in that very encounter though all of them were civilians barring may be a few. The US military claimed responsibility for killing of scores of what it termed as militants.
The Operation Dragon Strike in Kandahar in all the probability will force many Afghan insurgents cross over into Pakistan despite the assurances given other wise by ISAF not to let it happen.
The first blatant act of violation of the sovereignty of Pakistani territory occurred in a related pursuit of insurgents by ISAF on Saturday. The act only went to provide a surge in the wide spread anti Americanism amongst Pakistanis.
Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan had naively talked on non-recognition of American aid by the Pakistanis to confront the devastation caused by the floods. In the midst of Infringement of the Pakistani sovereignty, drone attacks, courting Pakistans arch rival India are some of the points that tarnishes the American image and then to speak of the recognition, is just dewy.
The irony is that after having sacrificed so much in Americas adventure in this part of South Asia in terms of life and blood, Pakistan once again stands out as a big looser in its engagement with the United States.
In the garb of fictitious assumptions that fresh attacks for Europe and America are being planned from inside Pakistan, the Nato and ISAF forces have shamelessly started violating Pakistans sovereignty at will. The first breach of the sovereign territory of Pakistan took place on 26th September and the second on 29th that killed around thirty five people including security personnel.
The trend shows that the practice will continue till the offensive in Kandahar is completed. This has to be checked firmly through bold and difficult decisions or else taking lead from these outrageous violations of a sovereign territory some other countries may become bolder also and take on other countries on various pretexts.
