Pak Army Capability to fight Taliban

[Blackpearl]

Troops advance with tanks for major assault: Clashes continue in S. Waziristan

WANA, Jan 23: The army sent reinforcements, for the first time with tanks, to the troubled South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday after clashes between security forces and militants intensified in the Mehsud area.

Official sources and local people said that the infantry, backed by tanks and heavy artillery, were seen heading towards the Spinkai Raghzai fort from a base in the adjoining Frontier Region of Jandola. Infantry units comprising 600 troops reached Spinkai Raghzai from Jandola amid fierce clashes.

As clashes intensified, militants’ spokesman Maulvi Umar told Dawn that the conflict could expand to other areas of Waziristan if the government did not halt the operation.

“We are ready to fight and will attack army anywhere in Waziristan.”

He claimed that security forces would not be able to what he called subjugate the tribal region and they would be forced to withdraw......The Dawn, January 24 2008

Pakistan Army's capability to fight an unconventional warfare has been seriously put into a test. Recently, President in European tour has reiterated, that "....1,00,000 troops are fighting Taliban,......loss of forts are just "pen pricks,.........there is a zero percent chance that Pak Army will be defeated......' (The Dawn, 23 Jan 2008).

Since its origin in 2003, the conflict is only spreading, not receeding.
Can we expact that Pak Army will be able to fully suppress the Taliban movement.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Donot worry .... Wait and See...

These so called Talibans can only speak alot and when come under test they flee in the mountains... If they are right in their cause then they should stay and fight. Furthermore, PA never wanted to do army action in Waziristan since the way of FATA is through dialogue and one wishes Mahsuds are not so stupid but they are it seems. Lets see where this Maulvi Omer hides now!...

South Waziristan Agency is not so big area as you think. It can be cleared in days if attacked by land and Air without considering local people who have nothing to do with these extremists. But PA has to take care for the innocent people also as they are our people and we donot want casualities of innocents.

 

[mujahideen]

I think a major operation is about to be launched in FATA.

 

[JK!]

It looks like a Swat style operation of combined arms to root out militants especially as APCs have joined in.

 

[Blackpearl]

So, i understand that, Pakistan Army is capable of fighting the insurgency.

My estimate regarding Army's, shortcommings are

1. We donot have effective intelligence assets as such. This include, reliable agents and Intelligence personnel inside Taliban cadres, to give prior information of any immenent thraet (attacks on convoys, forts, planting of IEDs).

2. This intelligence gathering assets also include recconnaisance from air by UAVs, which i am not sure they are employed or not!!

3. The thing i feel the most is near absence of PAF from the arena. PAF ground attack planes can effectively provide close air support. With PGMs, designated millitants hideout can be targetted neatly and precisely. This will reduce to minimum, colletoral damage.

 

[S-2]

"This will reduce to minimum, colletoral damage."

Not necessarily. The munition's capabilities have an "emboldening" effect on targeters at times which requires mitigation by a mature analysis and supervision of the targeting process.

 

[Blackpearl]

Over the years , Pakistan Army is trained to fight conventional warfare with a well defined enemy, across the Inernational Border. The training is focused on employment of tanks, artillery guns, large scale manoeuvres etc.

Now we are faced with a faceless enemy. The enemy within. Even US forces are not able to fight insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. But our forces should concentrate not to let the insurgency spread across the area. This unfortunately, Army is unable to do. First it was S Waziristan, then Nort Waziristan, then Swat, again S Waziristan and now Kohat. This war is engulfing slowly the NWFP.

Army should do something to at least contain the insurgents in tribal areas.

 

[EagleEyes]

Just for an addition. There are no tanks. Only APCs/IFVs..

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Just for an addition. There are no tanks. Only APCs/IFVs..

3 Al Zarrar's are deployed in South Wazirstan... Just to give a mental approach effect....

 

[Blackpearl]

3 Al Zarrar's are deployed in South Wazirstan... Just to give a mental approach effect....

Negetive Sir,

As seen in newspaper "The Dawn" of 26 Jan, they are Type 59/69 series tanks.
Off course, they are there for ostensible reasons.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Negetive Sir,

As seen in newspaper "The Dawn" of 26 Jan, they are Type 59/69 series tanks.
Off course, they are there for ostensible reasons.

To my knowledge all type 56/69 were to be modified to Al Zarrar (T-72 capability)

 

[Blackpearl]

Pakistan Army is planning to convert all its Type 59/69 series tanks to Al Zarar version, in Heavy Industries Texilla. The process is on.
The new improvements in Al Zarar include:
1. 125 mm smoothbore gun instead of 105 mm rifled gun
2. 700 HP Diesel Engine instead of 570 HP
3. Crew reduced to 3 from 4, as Auto loader is added.
4. Image stabilization systemfor gunner, and improved Fire Control System.
5. Addition of Explosive Reactive Armour plates.

 

[JK!]

To my knowledge all type 56/69 were to be modified to Al Zarrar (T-72 capability)

Nope only a few were around 300 from the last figures I saw.

It is an original Type 59 as the turret has no added composite armour on it and is most likely from an attached armour to an infantry unit.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Since its origin in 2003, the conflict is only spreading, not receeding.
Can we expact that Pak Army will be able to fully suppress the Taliban movement.

I would argue that the Taliban had been given a lot of leeway in FATA, until this recent operation against Mehsud and in Darra Adamkhel, in the hopes that the "peace deals" would work out. I think now, when the PA is actually ditching the "deal" approach, is the time that a proper analysis of its shortcomings in COIN will come to light.

 

[blain2]

To my knowledge all type 56/69 were to be modified to Al Zarrar (T-72 capability)

That is not correct. Only certain Type-59s are to be converted to AZ configuration. The type overall is nearing its end of life. Eventually additional AKs and T-84s will be purchased.