Pak, Australia agreed to boost anti-terror cooperation

[abdulrafi]

GEO Pakistan
Pak, Australia agreed to boost anti-terror cooperation
Updated at: 1234 PST, Wednesday, May 20, 2009
CANBERRA: Pakistan and Australia have agreed to boost cooperation for curbing terrorism. Pakistan will send 70 military personnel to Australia to get counter insurgency training training.

This was decided during a meeting between Australian Minister for Defence Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon and General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mr Fitzgibbon and General Tariq Majid discussed the significant military operations currently being conducted against militants in the North West Frontier region of Pakistan.

Mr Fitzgibbon expressed his sorrow for the losses suffered by the Pakistan Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism, and for the suffering of the civilian populations as a result of the recent fighting.

“Pakistan’s success in its conflict with Taliban extremists on its soil is critical to regional and global security, as well as Australia’s own national interest,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Australia also recognises the complex challenges that Pakistan faces and appreciates the efforts of Pakistan towards maintaining security.

Mr Fitzgibbon announced a significant increase in access to Defence Cooperation Program training courses in Australia for Pakistan Military personnel. Training course places will increase from around ten in the current financial year to around 70 for next year.

“The Australian Defence Force is working with the Pakistan Military on a number of counter insurgency training initiatives both in Australia and Pakistan. As a first step, six Pakistani officers have been invited to attend the counter-insurgency module at the Australian Defence College in late 2009,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“We appreciate that the Pakistan military has significant expertise in confronting the extremist and terrorist threat. Our increased engagement is focused on providing training to assist Pakistan in this task.”

Mr Fitzgibbon emphasised that Australia was developing the engagement program in close consultation with Pakistan, and he expressed the desire to explore options to increase this assistance further.

General Tariq Majid said that Pakistan appreciates the role played by Australia as part of the Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and emphasised that Pakistan and Australia have common interests and shared objectives in promoting peace and stability in the region.

General Tariq Majid said that Pakistan is committed to stem and eradicate extremism from its soil while continuing to support the Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. He also emphasised the need to adopt a collaborative approach and comprehensive solutions to meet the challenges that Pakistan faces today.

 

[Ratus Ratus]

About freeking time!
Not too sure if they will be at Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS), or at the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC).
Both are sub units within ADC.

 

[IceCold]

So what exactly are we going to gain out of this other then of course the diplomatic posture of helping an ally by boosting anti-terror cooperation.

 

[Ratus Ratus]

You get the same as when you send your Officers to places such as:
Turkey, Japan, China, Bangladesh, UK, USA, Germany and France

So if these officers coming to Australia are just a posture process, then that would apply to your other officers going to the countries listed above.

If they come with your attitude then they will get nothing from it either culturally or military. That would then represent a waste of time and effort on your Army’s higher command part.

 

[Rajkumar]

does Australia have any experience in counter insurgency, i mean what kind of cooperation would Australia provide in this field?

 

[IceCold]

You get the same as when you send your Officers to places such as:
Turkey, Japan, China, Bangladesh, UK, USA, Germany and France

So if these officers coming to Australia are just a posture process, then that would apply to your other officers going to the countries listed above.

If they come with your attitude then they will get nothing from it either culturally or military. That would then represent a waste of time and effort on your Army’s higher command part.

There is nothing that we don't know already know and PA now do have sufficient experience to conduct successful CI operations. Its not about the attitude, its about the time and resources being spent on such posture process and hence a waste of time.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

There is nothing that we don't know already know and PA now do have sufficient experience to conduct successful CI operations. Its not about the attitude, its about the time and resources being spent on such posture process and hence a waste of time.

The attitude should be one of always learning, and everyone has different experiences and knowledge to offer. I don't see a downside in pooling all of that together and learning from US, European and Australian experiences.

 

[IceCold]

The attitude should be one of always learning, and everyone has different experiences and knowledge to offer. I don't see a downside in pooling all of that together and learning from US, European and Australian experiences.

And that is exactly my question what is there to learn in the first place that we don't know already or haven't learned so far in CI operations? The down side is a waste of time and resources which other wise can be better utilized in other needed areas.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

And that is exactly my question what is there to learn in the first place that we don't know already or haven't learned so far in CI operations?

We won't know until we go there.

Its rather arrogant and foolish to think that we know everything there is to know about COIN. Certainly we have built up tremendous experience over the years with the Baluch insurgencies and the in the recent past with the Taliban insurgency, but there is nothing wrong with interacting with other nations that have operated in different theaters to see how they interpreted and analyzed their experiences and evolved their tactics and strategies.

 

[Durran3]

Same goes with technological expertise as well..

 

[Ratus Ratus]

There is nothing that we don't know already know and PA now do have sufficient experience to conduct successful CI operations. Its not about the attitude, its about the time and resources being spent on such posture process and hence a waste of time.

You say the PA has experience, well it did not show too well in your attempts in Bajaur did it.

Arrogance precedes a BIG fall. When is yours?

 

[Ratus Ratus]

does Australia have any experience in counter insurgency, i mean what kind of cooperation would Australia provide in this field?

The co operation is assist in training.

CI experience.
1. Malayan Emergency 1955-60
2. Indonesian Confrontation, (Borneo) 1964-65
3. Vietnam 1965 - 1972
4. Somalia 1992 – 1994
5. East Timor – 1999 ->

You need to read a bit of history.

Yes we are good at it so perhaps you might learn something.

 

[Ratus Ratus]

Get your story straight.
There was no promise to bring troops back from Afghanistan. It was Iraq which has occurred.

I would also suggest you go read the latest defence white paper, not just the little shreds posted about. And take a look at the Defence Materiel Organisation papers re Land, Air & Sea.
The Pakistan Australian co operation is already in any Army sub budget as it relates to international cooperation and training.
You do need to get a hold on the details of how all these actually function

The insurance issue is some thing that actually happens with any deployment. The media has just hyped it up due to sheer ignorance on their part.
If you were in the military then you would know this. As you are not, your lack of understanding is excusable.

 

[IceCold]

You say the PA has experience, well it did not show too well in your attempts in Bajaur did it.

Arrogance precedes a BIG fall. When is yours?

And we have learned from it and adapted according to the situation and the proof lies in the military success against the militants in Swat.

 

[IceCold]

Pak army has facilities for counter insurgency training: Army Chief
Updated at: 1741 PST, Saturday, May 16, 2009
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reacting to the comments on Low Intensity Conflict (LIC ) Training of Pakistani troops said Pakistan Army has developed a full range of counter insurgency training facilities tailored to train troops for such operations.

In a statement the COAS said: “Except for very specialized weapons and equipment, high technology, no generalized foreign training is required.”

Owing to its vast experience, Pakistan Army remains the best-suited force to operate in its own area. Uncalled for aspersions through various quarters on our training methods / orientation is apparently due to lack of knowledge and understanding of our training system in vogue, he said.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reaffirmed that strategic decisions regarding where, when and how many troops are deployed in each operation or sector is always a Pakistani decision based on objective analysis and our full understanding of threat spectrum.

These decisions are undertaken in accordance with our national interest by our leadership keeping in view the aspirations of people of Pakistan. Any outside advice/subjective comments towards this end is counter productive and divisive in effect rather than helpful.
Pak army has facilities for counter insurgency training: Army Chief - GEO.tv[/QUOTE]

This is an article posted by ajpirzada in the thread "Army called in to eliminate terrorists in Swat: PM". The purpose of reproducing it here is to show all those who think other wise. There is nothing we need to learn from Australia in this regard.