Operation Rah-e-Nijat (South Waziristan)

[Abu Zolfiqar]

consensus yes. In fact, more so now than at any other time.

but consensus alone is not enough....i thought it would be, but i was wrong. Why can't we just enlist an emergency Army draft. Pakistan Army has no shortage of men -active/reserve.

But the point is, we need more and more civilians to have basic trainings; not to become vigilantes roaming the streets....but to gain the discipline and become a bit more.........ADEPT.......at being able to protect the neighborhoods and be on high alert

and even then, it doesnt stop the problem of suicide bombers. These cowards who send teenagers to do their dirty work have an advantage in the sense that they have pawns who are willing to explode themselves, and their suicide jackets are having ball bearings and other shrapnel.

every district in every city in every Province has areas that are crowded; how in hell can you keep a suicide bomber from carrying out his act --especially in a country with 170 million people? Checkpoints have helped, and suspects have been nabbed --thanks to Army, and intelligence. But we are facing an extremely precarious situation, and obviously some certain nearby enemy countries (which needn't even be named) are providing kerosene to the fire.

We can reduce casualties because police are more alert now; but the point is --people are still getting killed.

Unless and until we can permanently dismantle the terrorist cells (active/sleeper)operating inside the cities; and until we can end the supply/logistics chains, and become as ruthless against our enemy --then what more can we do? Seriously.


I was laying in bed the other day, thinking about the situation.


Build a "National Wall of SHAME" somewhere, perhaps somewhere in Mohmand, or Khyber Agency. It would include pictures of every single suicide bomber responsible for carrying out these attacks.


their names....their families names....village name, address....it would explain on what date they carried out their attack. And it would include HOW MANY innocent people (most likely Muslims) they killed.

It would also describe the date in which their bodies were cremated





I'm not being emotional. I'm being dead serious.

 

[fatman17]

analysis: Drone attacks: challenging some fabrications —Farhat Taj

The people of Waziristan are suffering a brutal kind of occupation under the Taliban and al Qaeda. Therefore, they welcome the drone attacks

There is a deep abyss between the perceptions of the people of Waziristan, the most drone-hit area and the wider Pakistani society on the other side of the River Indus. For the latter, the US drone attacks on Waziristan are a violation of Pakistani’s sovereignty. Politicians, religious leaders, media analysts and anchorpersons express sensational clamour over the supposed ‘civilian casualties’ in the drone attacks. I have been discussing the issue of drone attacks with hundreds of people of Waziristan. They see the US drone attacks as their liberators from the clutches of the terrorists into which, they say, their state has wilfully thrown them. The purpose of today’s column is, one, to challenge the Pakistani and US media reports about the civilian casualties in the drone attacks and, two, to express the view of the people of Waziristan, who are equally terrified by the Taliban and the intelligence agencies of Pakistan. I personally met these people in the Pakhtunkhwa province, where they live as internally displaced persons (IDPs), and in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

I would challenge both the US and Pakistani media to provide verifiable evidence of civilian ‘casualties’ because of drone attacks on Waziristan, i.e. names of the people killed, names of their villages, dates and locations of the strikes and, above all, the methodology of the information that they collected.

If they can’t meet the challenge, I would request them to stop throwing around fabricated figures of ‘civilian casualties’ that confuse people around the world and provide propaganda material to the pro-Taliban and al Qaeda forces in the politics and media of Pakistan.

I pose that challenge because no one is in a position to give a correct estimate of how many individuals have been killed so far in drone attacks. On the basis of American media estimates, 600 to 700 ‘civilian population’ have been killed. The Pakistani government, pro-Taliban political parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam, Tehrik-e-Insaf, and the media are quoting the same figure. Neither the government of Pakistan nor the media have any access to the area and no system is in place to arrive at precise estimates. The Pakistani government and media take the figure appearing in the American media as an admission by the American government. The US media too do not have access to the area. Moreover, the area is simply not accessible for any kind of independent journalistic or scholarly work on drone attacks. The Taliban simply kill anyone doing so.

The reason why these estimates about civilian ‘casualties’ in the US and Pakistani media are wrong is that after every attack the terrorists cordon off the area and no one, including the local villagers, is allowed to come even near the targeted place. The militants themselves collect the bodies, burry the dead and then issue the statement that all of them were innocent civilians. This has been part of their propaganda to provide excuses to the pro-Taliban and al Qaeda media persons and political forces in Pakistan to generate public sympathies for the terrorists. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or other militants have never admitted to the killing of any important figure of al Qaeda or the TTP. One exception is the killing of Baitullah Mehsud that the TTP reluctantly admitted several days after his death. According to the people of Waziristan, the only civilians who have been killed so far in the drone attacks are women or children of the militants in whose houses/compounds they hold meetings. But that, too, used to happen in the past. Now they don’t hold meetings at places where women and children of the al Qaeda and TTP militants reside. Moreover, in this case too no one is in a position to give even an approximate number of the women and children of the terrorists killed in drone attacks.

The people of Waziristan are suffering a brutal kind of occupation under the Taliban and al Qaeda. It is in this context that they would welcome anyone, Americans, Israelis, Indians or even the devil, to rid them of the Taliban and al Qaeda. Therefore, they welcome the drone attacks. Secondly, the people feel comfortable with the drones because of their precision and targeted strikes. People usually appreciate drone attacks when they compare it with the Pakistan Army’s attacks, which always result in collateral damage. Especially the people of Waziristan have been terrified by the use of long-range artillery and air strikes of the Pakistan Army and Air Force. People complain that not a single TTP or al Qaeda member has been killed so far by the Pakistan Army, whereas a lot of collateral damage has taken place. Thousands of houses have been destroyed and hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed by the Pakistan Army. On the other hand, drone attacks have never targeted the civilian population except, they informed, in one case when the funeral procession of Khwazh Wali, a TTP commander, was hit. In that attack too, many TTP militants were killed including Bilal (the TTP commander of Zangara area) and two Arab members of al Qaeda. But some civilians were also killed. After the attack people got the excuse of not attending the funeral of slain TTP militants or offering them food, which they used to do out of compulsion in order to put themselves in the TTP’s good books. “It (this drone attack) was a blessing in disguise,” several people commented.

I have heard people particularly appreciating the precision of drone strikes. People say that when a drone would hover over the skies, they wouldn’t be disturbed and would carry on their usual business because they would be sure that it does not target the civilians, but the same people would run for shelter when a Pakistani jet would appear in the skies because of its indiscriminate firing. They say that even in the same compound only the exact room — where a high value target (HVT) is present — is targeted. Thus others in the same compound are spared. The people of Waziristan have been complaining why the drones are only restricted to targeting the Arabs. They want the drones to attack the TTP leadership, the Uzbek/Tajik/Turkmen, Punjabi and Pakhtun Taliban. I have heard even religious people of Waziristan cursing the jihad and welcoming even Indian or Israeli support to help them get rid of the TTP and foreign militants. The TTP and foreign militants had made them hostages and occupied their houses by force. The Taliban have publicly killed even the religious scholars in Waziristan.

I have yet to come across a non-TTP resident of Waziristan who supports the Taliban or al Qaeda. Till recently they were terrified by the TTP to the extent that they would not open their mouth to oppose them. But now, having been displaced and out of their reach, some of them speak against them openly and many more than before in private conversations. They express their fear of the intelligence agencies of Pakistan whenever speaking against the Taliban. They see the two as two sides of the same coin.

What we read and hear in the print and electronic media of Pakistan about drone attacks as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty or resulting in killing innocent civilians is not true so far as the people of Waziristan are concerned. According to them, al Qaeda and the TTP are dead scared of drone attacks and their leadership spends sleepless nights. This is a cause of pleasure for the tormented people of Waziristan.

Moreover, al Qaeda and the Taliban have done everything to stop the drone attacks by killing hundreds of innocent civilians on the pretext of their being American spies. They thought that by overwhelming the innocent people of Waziristan with terror tactics they would deter any potential informer, but they have failed. On many occasions the Taliban and al Qaeda have killed the alleged US spies in front of crowds of hundreds, even thousands of tribesmen. Interestingly, no one in Pakistan has raised objection to killings of the people of Waziristan on charges of spying for the US. This, the people of Waziristan informed, is a source of torture for them that their fellow Pakistanis condemn the killing of the terrorists but fall into deadly silence over the routine murders of tribesmen accused of spying for the US by the terrorists occupying their land.

The writer is a research fellow at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Research, University of Oslo and a member of Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy. She can be reached at bergen34@yahoo.com


Earth to Dr.Sangeen - come in please!

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

No 7/2010-ISPR Dated: January 3, 2010

Operation Rah-e-Nijat　

Details of the operations of last 24 hours are as follows:-

a.　　Jandola Sector

(1) An IED was blasted on security forces near Jandola while moving from Jandola to Top Sar, resultantly 1 soldier embraced Shahadat while 4 other got injured.

(2) Security forces carried out sanitization operation in Shuza Algad near Sara Rogha. During exchange of fire, 3 terrorists were killed while 4 were injured and cache of arms and ammunitions were also recovered.

(3) Joint cordon and search operation conducted by security forces and Lakki Police at Tap Takhti Khel near Jani Khel, 3 abducted persons released and 22 suspects apprehended.

(4) Security forces conducted cordon and search operation in Luni. During intense engagements with terrorists near Maddi village on DI Khan - Kulachi road, 5 terrorists were killed.

b. 　Shakai Sector

(1) Security forces conducted search operation in upper Kaniguram area and recovered cache of arms and ammunition.

(2) Security forces conducted search operation in general area of Kund Mela and Asman Manza near Kaniguram and destroyed 7 IEDs. Huge cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered.

(3) Terrorists fired at security forces check post near Kund Mela which was effectively responded.

(4) Security forces at Tatai Lunger Khel near Ladha detected 3-4 terrorists moving in general area village Sultana. Terrorists were engaged with small arms and mortars. Terrorists seen dragging bodies.

c.　　Razmak Sector　

(1) Terrorists fired 3 rockets followed by intermittent small arms fire from area near Pash Ziarat at Pash Ziarat post. 1 soldier embraced Shahadat.

(2) Security forces carried out search and clearance operation in village Darakai near Dwatoi. 35 houses searched / cleared.

(3) Security forces carried out sanitization of Mankai Algad, general area Makeen. 20 compounds searched / cleared. During the operation huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.

(4) During search operation at Metari Narai near Mir Khoni and Khajuri, 3 suspected terrorists apprehended.


Relief Activities　　

28,021 Cash Cards have been issued to displaced families of Waziristan.

:: ISPR :: Inter Services Public Relations - PAKISTAN

 

[fatman17]

Army action, drone strike kill 12 Taliban

* Troops kill seven Taliban in Swat, S Waziristan
* Two soldiers martyred in separate incidents
* Drone strike kill five in N Waziristan

PESHAWAR: As many as twelve terrorists were killed in Swat and Waziristan, including two when US missiles flattened a Taliban hideout in the tribal belt, while two soldiers were martyred in separate incidents in the last 24 hours.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations statement, the security forces continued their operation in South Waziristan and killed seven terrorists.

In Jandola Sector, an improvised explosive device (IED) killed a soldier and injured five others while they were moving from Jandola to Top Sar. Another soldier was martyred when terrorists fired three rockets followed by intermittent firing at the Pash Ziarat checkpost in Razmak Sector.

Killed: Separately, security forces carried out a sanitization operation in Shuza Algad near Sararogha and killed three terrorists in a shootout. Four terrorists were injured in the incident, while a huge cache of arms and ammunitions was also seized.

During Operation Rah-e-Rast, security forces stopped five suspected terrorists at Qadir Banda Post near Gwalerai, but the men opened fire. The troops retaliated and killed two of them, while the other three fled.

A patrolling party moving from Shagai to Piochar shot dead two suspected men.

Troops also defused and destroyed seven IEDs during a search operation in Kund Mela and Asman Manza areas near Kannigram.

The security forces and Lakki police managed the release of three abducted individuals and arrested 22 suspects during a joint cordon-and-search operation in Tap Takhti Khel near Jani Khel in South Waziristan.

Three suspected terrorists were also apprehended during a search operation in Metari Narai near Mir Khoni and Khajuri, while 11 suspects were apprehended during search operations in different areas of Swat. Five suspects turned themselves in in Ningulai near Charbagh, according to APP

Drone: According to AFP, missiles fired by a suspected US drone killed five terrorists in Mosakki village, about 25 kilometres east of Miranshah. It was the third suspected US missile attack in the tribal district in less than a week.

agencies

 

[fatman17]

The battle ahead

Dawn Editorial

Sunday, 03 Jan, 2010

The devastating bombing in Lakki Marwat has already fashioned a blood-drenched bookend for the start of the year.

PAKISTANIS may have hoped the new year would improve the country’s fortunes, but the devastating bombing in Lakki Marwat has already fashioned a blood-drenched bookend for the start of the year. If the year ahead is to be less bloody, though, it appears the North Waziristan problem will finally have to be addressed.

After the loss of their ‘centre of gravity’ in South Waziristan, the militants appear to have relocated to North Waziristan from where they have begun to radiate their campaign of terror once again (Lakki Marwat’s residents have claimed the threats they have been receiving come from North Waziristan).

Is a military operation in North Waziristan necessary? Yes. But this is not another senseless call for yet more state violence in a reckless bid to ‘end’ militancy. Looked at from a number of angles, the military challenge in North Waziristan is not insurmountable, especially if the militants who have fled from South Waziristan are prevented from digging in. First, the militants from the south are ‘outsiders’ in their new sanctuary, a fact of great value to the state in an area where tribal affiliations can trump everything else. Second, the state has had military resources in North Waziristan for several years now and there is a political administration in place (though the ‘shadow’ administration of the militants does often wield more power). Third, Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, is a very lucrative smuggling route, something the locals are loath to give up to fight a potentially unwinnable war against the state. Finally, the ‘Haqqani factor’ may not be the deal breaker that it is sometimes assumed to be. Khost and other parts of eastern Afghanistan are far more important to the Haqqani network than North Waziristan, which appears to be valued more as a rear base rather than a primary launch pad for attacks.

So, North Waziristan, the new terrorism central, must and can be reclaimed by the state from the militants. Thankfully, this is now being acknowledged by the security establishment here, albeit mostly privately at this point. The piece that does not appear to be falling in place as yet though is the American side. Fixated on the enemy that troubles them the most, the Americans do not appear to have done everything possible to help Pakistan fight ‘our’ enemy. Perhaps the Americans need to take more seriously their own rhetoric about the need for a stable Pakistan. Better the ‘bad’ Taliban (from the Pakistani state’s perspective) be attacked than no Taliban be attacked. But with the ‘do more’ shoe on the other foot, the Americans do not seem willing to do everything they can.

 

[S-2]

"The piece that does not appear to be falling in place as yet though is the American side. Fixated on the enemy that troubles them the most, the Americans do not appear to have done everything possible to help Pakistan fight ‘our’ enemy."

K,

Here's a late Christmas present for you. The Institute For The Study Of War does a great job of tracking the ISAF ORBAT. Who, what, where, and when. Very up-to-date.

Afghanistan ORBAT December 2009

Now you'll be able to know who's not doing enough and where they're not doing enough at...

 

[fatman17]

"The piece that does not appear to be falling in place as yet though is the American side. Fixated on the enemy that troubles them the most, the Americans do not appear to have done everything possible to help Pakistan fight ‘our’ enemy."

K,

Here's a late Christmas present for you. The Institute For The Study Of War does a great job of tracking the ISAF ORBAT. Who, what, where, and when. Very up-to-date.

Afghanistan ORBAT December 2009

Now you'll be able to know who's not doing enough and where they're not doing enough at...

right! depends on who wants who to look better!

 

[fatman17]

Waziristan war in critical stage

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Rahimullah Yusufzai

Already suffering from the fall-out of the eight-year-old US-led war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Pakistan is now confronted with arguably the most dangerous phase of the seemingly endless battle. This is a critical stage also for the future of Islamabad's uneasy relationship with Washington.

With the formidable US spy network, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), threatening revenge after losing seven agents including two women in a Taliban-sponsored suicide bombing in Afghanistan's Khost province bordering North Waziristan, there will definitely be an escalation in its not-so-secret war being conducted primarily through unpiloted predator and reaper aircraft striking targets in Pakistan's tribal areas. One should now expect North Waziristan and, to a lesser extent, South Waziristan and other parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to become a frequent hunting ground for the drones operating in the region..

Pakistan's dilemma in these difficult times is hard to explain. It is critical of US drone strikes on its soil, but is unwilling and unable to go beyond the customary and almost muted protests over the violation of its airspace. It doesn't want to risk America's wrath by trying to shoot down the CIA-operated spy planes. It has the capability to bring down the intruding drones, but such an act would be considered hostile and unpardonable by the US. Pakistan has been designated the closest non-NATO ally by the US and members of the western military alliance, and is expected to remain a steadfast partner in the so-called 'war on terror'. It is being paid to fight the war within its borders and the US military aid has now been augmented by civilian assistance amounting to $7.5 billion over the next five years.

However, Pakistan has to pay a huge price for remaining a US ally. At a time when public opinion surveys show more than 80 per cent of Pakistanis opposing US policies and mentioning it as a bigger threat to Pakistan than India, Al Qaeda and Taliban, it cannot be easy for any government or military to justify an unpopular alliance with America. The closer Pakistan is seen standing with the US, the greater the chances of its streets becoming restless and the conservative sections of its population showing resentment. In a world where the Muslim populations have become polarised with their rulers mostly siding with the US, contrary to the aspirations of their subjects, it becomes all the more difficult for politically unstable and economically depressed countries such as Pakistan to justify its alliance with America. Pakistan would certainly become a less violent place if it could detach itself from the US war on terror but this is easier said than done. It won't be easy for Pakistan to extricate itself from a suffocating embrace with the US and even if it were to happen, the consequences would be painful.

Already, there has been a dramatic increase in the number and intensity of the US drone attacks, particularly in North Waziristan where there was no shortage of local and foreign militants. More have flocked there from the adjoining South Waziristan agency following the ground offensive by Pakistan's security forces on October 17 last year. Reports showed there were 44 strikes by the US drones in 2009 in which 708 people, overwhelmingly Pakistani civilians though many guilty of hosting wanted Al Qaeda and Taliban operatives, were killed. The known militants killed in these attacks were few and far between and among them were Pakistani Taliban commanders Baitullah Mehsud and Haji Omar, and Al Qaeda's Usama al-Kin and Sheikh Ahmad Salim. In 2010, there have already been three drone strikes in North Waziristan and many more should be expected. If these airstrikes are to continue at this pace, 2010 will see record attacks by the US drones.

It isn't hard to imagine the anger that these US missile strikes will cause in North Waziristan and other parts of country, not only against America but also the government and armed forces for their inability to protect Pakistani citizens and territory, and for continuing to side with the US. Sections of the Pakhtun youth on both sides of Pak-Afghan border have already been radicalised, and more would be tempted to take the same emotional route as the US drone programme in Pakistan's tribal areas escalates and the military surge ordered by President Obama in Afghanistan leads to more fighting.

There is no doubt that the December 30, 2009 suicide attack on the CIA station in Khost at the Forward Operating Base Chapman was a historic blow as it was the deadliest ever in the spy agency's history. In one incident, seven CIA operatives who for years had been hunting key Al Qaeda and Taliban figures were dead and six others wounded. Those who were killed include the CIA station head, an unidentified woman in her 30s, who since 1990s had been part of the team unsuccessfully chasing Osama bin Laden. They were probably the best CIA assets working in a dangerous place, hiring and cultivating Afghan and Pakistani informants, coordinating the drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas and collectively possessing the most comprehensive knowledge about the Al Qaeda and Taliban. The eighth spy killed in the suicide bombing was a Jordanian, Captain Ali bin Zeid, from his country's intelligence organisation, Mukhabirat. He is the first soldier from Jordan, which along with Turkey, UAE, Kazakhstan and Albania are the Muslim countries with troops deployed in Afghanistan as part of the US-led coalition forces, to die in battle in the war-battered country. His presence also explains the fact that spies from Middle Eastern countries are an essential part of the CIA campaign.

Perhaps bigger than the loss of its experienced agents was the embarrassment caused to the CIA and the US army of the security lapse at a base as secure as the old, Soviet-built Khost airbase where the suicide bomber was able to strike. The Afghan Taliban were obviously proud of the feat and they wasted no time in claiming that a double-agent Afghan named Samiullah was the suicide bomber, a CIA informant, allowed unhindered access to the base.

It was clear that the Haqqani Network, named after the legendary Afghan mujahideen and Taliban commander Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani but now run by his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, was behind the suicide bombing even though the Pakistani Taliban commander Qari Hussain unconvincingly claimed responsibility for the attack to avenge the assassination of Baitullah Mehsud. The US army, or the CIA to be specific, and the Haqqanis were already involved in a deadly war of revenge against each other and their blood feud has now become deadlier and personal. In the 80s, the elder Haqqani and CIA cooperated with each other fighting the Soviet occupying forces in Afghanistan. Today, they are rivals.

The US Special Forces and CIA have killed scores of Haqqani's men, women and children in secret operations and drone strikes in Afghanistan and in North Waziristan, where the family migrated from Khost after the Soviet invasion in December 1979. The CIA will now try harder to eliminate the Haqqanis, who control one of the most powerful Taliban groups in Afghanistan. To succeed, the CIA will make more frequent use of drones in North Waziristan and other Pakistani tribal areas, and hire a larger number of informants, (better screened to prevent incidents like the recent suicide bombing at Khost).

Aware that escalation in US drone strikes will further destabilise Pakistan, Islamabad is urging restraint on part of Washington. But the US, upset that Pakistan hasn't taken any action against the Haqqanis and the Afghan Taliban's Quetta Shura, is unlikely to heed this advice. More drone attacks could also cause the collapse of the critical peace deals that the Pakistan government has made with powerful, non-TTP Pakistani Taliban commanders Hafiz Gul Bahadur in North Waziristan and Maulvi Nazeer in Wana to prevent them from joining forces with the Hakimullah Mehsud-led militants in South Waziristan.

It seems the US prefers this scenario so that Pakistan's armed forces are forced to launch military operations in both Wana and Shakai in North and South Waziristan. This will widen the battlefield and result in more retaliatory suicide attacks by the militants in Pakistani cities. In case Islamabad decides under US pressure to cut off its links with the Afghan Taliban, particularly the Haqqanis, it means creating more enemies at a time when Pakistan is finding it difficult to put down an insurgency fed by Pakistani Taliban and other home-grown jihadis.



The writer is resident editor of The News in Peshawar. Email: rahim yusufzai@yahoo.com

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

N. Waziristan will be more tricky, since there are also pro-government (pro Pakistan) tribals there who have openly condemned terrorism of TTP

they must not be violated or betrayed. We must continue to support them, not just in terms of protecting them --but also investing in the backwards areas.


people in N Waziristan are very wary about TTP, but some are just too intimidated or just under-equipped to fight TTP. This is where proper governance, police and intelligence can play a good role.

every terrorist hideout must be obliterated....anybody who speaks highly of TTP or glorifies their actions should be detained.


In these tribal areas, strangers cannot survive if they get no hospitality and no support. You will be obliterated if the people are largely against you. At this point, we shouldnt just blindly go in firing......we should only act when we have intelligence about enemy positions.

it would be prudent for the Americans to sell us Predator Drones technology, but it seems that they wont budge. Quite strange.

 

[fatman17]

Joint Pak-US action against Taliban in the offing

By Baqir Sajjad Syed

Tuesday, 05 Jan, 2010

General Stanley McChrystal said that cooperation between the armed forces of the United States and Pakistan must be increased.

Pakistan and the United States are working on a plan to take joint military action against Taliban and launch coordinated attacks on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border, according to Gen Stanley McChrystal, Commander of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan.

He was talking to reporters at the residence of the US ambassador on Monday evening after holding talks with military commanders here and visiting Swat.

“In fact, we are developing a joint campaign plan so that we approach the entire problem together and as much as possible we can make our efforts synergistic.”

Gen McChrystal said strong partnership between the US and Pakistan was critical for counter-insurgency operations on both sides of the border.

“The most important thing we can do is to coordinate our operations with the Pakistan Army and then there is, of course, going to be political coordination.”

In contrast to some other US officials, who have been lecturing Pakistanis on the need to ‘do more’ in the fight against extremist elements, Gen McChrystal repeatedly called for ‘partnership’ between the two countries and said that differences should not detract them from their aims.

Referring to the often-discussed trust deficit between the two countries, he said the level of mistrust had declined but it needed to be narrowed.

Surprisingly, Gen McChrystal, did not broach either the Haqqani Network or the Quetta Shura – the two problems that have posed serious challenges to cooperation between the two countries.

Pakistan Army, which is engaged in a campaign against militant groups operating from its soil, has been accused of ignoring Afghanistan-focussed groups, prompting critics to claim that Islamabad being fearful of growing Indian influence in the war-torn country, was trying to preserve these factions as future assets for keeping its influence in Afghanistan.

Gen McChrystal, who was all praise for the military’s counter-insurgency campaign and the leadership of Army Chief Gen Kayani, said he had no reasons to doubt Pakistan Army’s sincerity.

“I’m hopeful of the time when the Haqqani Network, which is causing damage inside Afghanistan, is taken on by both of us jointly to reduce the damage they are causing. It is important that we together do that.”

About the Quetta Shura, he said that the best course was cooperation with Pakistan military. He opposed any direct action against the Shura.

“Taliban that threaten Afghanistan need to be pressured everywhere … Partnership with Pakistan is the best road to that as we strengthen the strategic partnership … that is the best way I think.”

He said that successes against Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan were interlinked and could not be achieved in isolation. “If Afghanistan suffers from instability it is going to be contagious.

“Everybody has a stake in coming out well.” On the issue of India using Afghanistan to destabilise Pakistan, he said, the complaints needed to be addressed. Although he said he did not have enough information to confirm or deny the allegations.

“If perceptions drive people to mistrust then there is a need to work on them.”

 

[fatman17]

^ I think that is why a high powered Pentagon delegation is arriving in Isld very soon - consisting of Mssrs, Gates, Mullen, Petreaus and McChrystal.

 

[waraich66]

Joint Pak-US action against Taliban in the offing

By Baqir Sajjad Syed

Tuesday, 05 Jan, 2010

General Stanley McChrystal said that cooperation between the armed forces of the United States and Pakistan must be increased.

Pakistan and the United States are working on a plan to take joint military action against Taliban and launch coordinated attacks on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border, according to Gen Stanley McChrystal, Commander of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan.

He was talking to reporters at the residence of the US ambassador on Monday evening after holding talks with military commanders here and visiting Swat.

“In fact, we are developing a joint campaign plan so that we approach the entire problem together and as much as possible we can make our efforts synergistic.”

Gen McChrystal said strong partnership between the US and Pakistan was critical for counter-insurgency operations on both sides of the border.

“The most important thing we can do is to coordinate our operations with the Pakistan Army and then there is, of course, going to be political coordination.”

In contrast to some other US officials, who have been lecturing Pakistanis on the need to ‘do more’ in the fight against extremist elements, Gen McChrystal repeatedly called for ‘partnership’ between the two countries and said that differences should not detract them from their aims.

Referring to the often-discussed trust deficit between the two countries, he said the level of mistrust had declined but it needed to be narrowed.

Surprisingly, Gen McChrystal, did not broach either the Haqqani Network or the Quetta Shura – the two problems that have posed serious challenges to cooperation between the two countries.

Pakistan Army, which is engaged in a campaign against militant groups operating from its soil, has been accused of ignoring Afghanistan-focussed groups, prompting critics to claim that Islamabad being fearful of growing Indian influence in the war-torn country, was trying to preserve these factions as future assets for keeping its influence in Afghanistan.

Gen McChrystal, who was all praise for the military’s counter-insurgency campaign and the leadership of Army Chief Gen Kayani, said he had no reasons to doubt Pakistan Army’s sincerity.

“I’m hopeful of the time when the Haqqani Network, which is causing damage inside Afghanistan, is taken on by both of us jointly to reduce the damage they are causing. It is important that we together do that.”

About the Quetta Shura, he said that the best course was cooperation with Pakistan military. He opposed any direct action against the Shura.

“Taliban that threaten Afghanistan need to be pressured everywhere … Partnership with Pakistan is the best road to that as we strengthen the strategic partnership … that is the best way I think.”

He said that successes against Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan were interlinked and could not be achieved in isolation. “If Afghanistan suffers from instability it is going to be contagious.

“Everybody has a stake in coming out well.” On the issue of India using Afghanistan to destabilise Pakistan, he said, the complaints needed to be addressed. Although he said he did not have enough information to confirm or deny the allegations.

“If perceptions drive people to mistrust then there is a need to work on them.”

Does Gen SM wanted to get help of Pakistan to play role of mediator to resolve Afghanistan problem through dialogue with Mullah Omar & Co ?????

or


They wanted PA to escalate towards Haqani and Gul Bahadar areas?????

 

[S-2]

I quick review of ISAF shows the U.S. is operating 13 U.S. Army infantry battalions, 7 cavalry battalions/squadrons, 3 Marine infantry battalions and 1 Marine Light Armored Reconnaissance battalion.

In addition, the British have five battalions, three battalions from Italy, two French battalions and one each Polish, Canadian, Romanian, German, Turkish, Danish, Australian, and Dutch. 42 combat battalions operating under various ROEs as defined by nat'l considerations. Not quite four divisions of light infantry.

There are two Spec Ops TFs operating as well comprised of Ranger, SAS, Australian SAS, SEAL and Delta Force operatives.

What's also interesting is that while there's been some complaining from Pakistanis here about Gen. McChrystal's intent to focus on higher-payoff populated areas, the U.S. Army maintains three battalions operating throughout Konar and Nuristan. Those two provinces, therefore, soak up 1/7th of the available combat power of the U.S (three of the twenty four infantry/cavalry battalions are detailed to training functions). Others are operating in Paktia, Khost, and other locales.

We know the Wanat site was abandoned after last summer's attack. That, however, appears to be a reaction to a poor tactical decision to locate there. Major relocation of U.S. forces out of RC-East for the south hasn't occurred.

It may be possible that McChrystal is sensitive to Pakistani concerns reference vacating this area. It may also mean that McChrystal's intent was never the wholesale abandonment of the eastern border by RC-East.

 

[waraich66]

I quick review of ISAF shows the U.S. is operating 13 U.S. Army infantry battalions, 7 cavalry battalions/squadrons, 3 Marine infantry battalions and 1 Marine Light Armored Reconnaissance battalion.

In addition, the British have five battalions, three battalions from Italy, two French battalions and one each Polish, Canadian, Romanian, German, Turkish, Danish, Australian, and Dutch. 42 combat battalions operating under various ROEs as defined by nat'l considerations. Not quite four divisions of light infantry.

There are two Spec Ops TFs operating as well comprised of Ranger, SAS, Australian SAS, SEAL and Delta Force operatives.

What's also interesting is that while there's been some complaining from Pakistanis here about Gen. McChrystal's intent to focus on higher-payoff populated areas, the U.S. Army maintains three battalions operating throughout Konar and Nuristan. Those two provinces, therefore, soak up 1/7th of the available combat power of the U.S (three of the twenty four infantry/cavalry battalions are detailed to training functions). Others are operating in Paktia, Khost, and other locales.

We know the Wanat site was abandoned after last summer's attack. That, however, appears to be a reaction to a poor tactical decision to locate there. Major relocation of U.S. forces out of RC-East for the south hasn't occurred.

It may be possible that McChrystal is sensitive to Pakistani concerns reference vacating this area. It may also mean that McChrystal's intent was never the wholesale abandonment of the eastern border by RC-East.

After WW2 , Afghanistan invasion is greatest highly funded and equiped adventure but failed to suceed against the world most poorest nation .

It will be great lesson for coming generations, how wars won by courage and help of mother nature but not by use of power?

 

[fatman17]

I quick review of ISAF shows the U.S. is operating 13 U.S. Army infantry battalions, 7 cavalry battalions/squadrons, 3 Marine infantry battalions and 1 Marine Light Armored Reconnaissance battalion.

In addition, the British have five battalions, three battalions from Italy, two French battalions and one each Polish, Canadian, Romanian, German, Turkish, Danish, Australian, and Dutch. 42 combat battalions operating under various ROEs as defined by nat'l considerations. Not quite four divisions of light infantry.

There are two Spec Ops TFs operating as well comprised of Ranger, SAS, Australian SAS, SEAL and Delta Force operatives.

What's also interesting is that while there's been some complaining from Pakistanis here about Gen. McChrystal's intent to focus on higher-payoff populated areas, the U.S. Army maintains three battalions operating throughout Konar and Nuristan. Those two provinces, therefore, soak up 1/7th of the available combat power of the U.S (three of the twenty four infantry/cavalry battalions are detailed to training functions). Others are operating in Paktia, Khost, and other locales.

We know the Wanat site was abandoned after last summer's attack. That, however, appears to be a reaction to a poor tactical decision to locate there. Major relocation of U.S. forces out of RC-East for the south hasn't occurred.

It may be possible that McChrystal is sensitive to Pakistani concerns reference vacating this area. It may also mean that McChrystal's intent was never the wholesale abandonment of the eastern border by RC-East.

there is a lack of co-ordination on both sides, which I believe is now going to be ramped-up. accusing each other (esp when we r on the same side) dosnt help much!.