The Battle for Bajaur - PA seizes control

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

This article was originally posted by Blain, and I thought it rang true, in terms of what Pakistan faces going forward. Therefore, the Bajaur Operation gets its own thread.

Battle to be won or lost in Bajaur​

By Ismail Khan


THE battle in the Bajaur Agency has not only become a tipping-point for Pakistan’s internal security, it can also have a deep impact on the country’s status as a key US ally in the war against terrorism. In the second week of August, the operation started haltingly to prevent what looked like the imminent fall of Bajaur’s regional headquarters, Khaar, to the militants.

Having suffered initial reversals, the operation is now on at full throttle. It has created a surrender-or-die situation for the militants and a now-or-never moment for the country’s security forces.

Predictably, the militants are using everything they have to hold their ground. Government and security officials say that they are baffled by the resilience and stiff resistance offered by the battle-hardened fighters, by their tactics and the sophistication of their weapons and communications systems.

“They have good weaponry and a better communication system (than ours),” said a senior official. “Even the sniper rifles they use are better than some of ours. Their tactics are mind-boggling and they have defences that would take us days to build. It does not look as though we are fighting a rag-tag militia; they are fighting like an organised force.”

More worryingly, the Bajaur battleground has attracted militants from other tribal regions and from across the border, from Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province. It has long been known that there are foreign militants in Bajaur, but their numbers have always been thought to be small. Now, their ranks are swelling, catching by surprise many veterans in the civil-military establishment. This supply line from Kunar to Bajaur has, however, eased the pressure in Afghanistan. Western diplomatic sources acknowledge that the level of violence in Kunar has dropped appreciably since the launch of the operation in Bajaur, indicating a planning and operational linkage that overlaps the Durand Line.

Realising how crucial and critical the Bajaur operation is — and the massive impact it can have on restive neighbouring tribal regions — the army has lined up tremendous resources to make quick headway.

Concern for backlash

Government and security sources say that so far the operation is going well. However, there are concerns that rising numbers of civilian casualties in a lengthening conflict may cause public and political backlash, and undermine the national support needed to succeed in Bajaur. The Jamaat-i-Islami, for one — which has a strong political base in Bajaur and has had close ties with Gulbadin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-i-Islami (which operates in Kunar) — has already launched a campaign against the operation.

For now, government and security officials are staying put and are determined to take the battle to what they call “its logical conclusion”.

To gauge the seriousness of this operation a brigade of the Pakistan Army has, for perhaps the first time, been placed under the command of the recently-posted Inspector General of Frontier Corps, Maj-Gen Tariq Khan, to ensure the unity of command and effectiveness.

The security forces are relieved by much-needed words of praise from an otherwise sceptical and suspicious American administration regarding the action in Bajaur. On Thursday, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Kabul that the US was “encouraged” by the security forces’ operation in Bajaur.

At home, meanwhile, important members of the political leadership have stopped expressing misgivings about the establishment’s intentions in terms of dealing with militancy; they acknowledge that this operation is for real.

“There is a change in their approach,” said a senior politician from the NWFP. “They seem serious. As to what caused this change of mind, we really have no idea.”

One view being expressed among political circles is that the gravity of the security threat to national integrity, crucial support from the current leadership and growing public mobilisation in Buner, Dir and Bajaur have together served as a shot in the arm for the military, enabling it to decisively take on the militants.

An additional fillip has been provided by the American administration’s upping of the ante. President George W. Bush’s July authorisation to permit operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas forced the army high command to come up with a strong reaction.

More importantly, the US commando raid in Angoor Adda made the top brass reiterate the commitment that they alone will take action on Pakistani soil, and Bajaur is the litmus test of this commitment. This has helped the government ‘own’ the operation as being driven by internal security concerns and has changed the perception that action was being taken under external pressure.

More aggressive approach

Bajaur, thus, may constitute the beginning of a more aggressive approach and strategy by Pakistan’s armed forces, backed equally by the political leadership.

The success of this approach may not only initiate the unravelling of the militants’ insurgency in the tribal region — though total elimination would take much longer and would require a host of other measures such as political, administrative and economic reforms — it may also restore to the state and its security forces much-needed credibility at home and abroad.

Equally crucial, however, would be the extent of the collateral damage, for that may tip the balance either way and cause the loss of local support to the government. Tribal support, therefore, would be of critical importance. The Salarzai and Utmankhel tribes have already risen against the militants, albeit for reasons of their own. But it would be the Mamonds, which constitute a stronghold of the militants, which could really tilt the balance in the government’s favour.

Analysts say that any failure, or the abandonment of the operation midway as occurred, for a variety of reasons, in South Waziristan, Darra Adamkhel and Swat, could potentially not only undermine the gains made so far in Bajaur, but could also cast a negative spell on the ongoing operations in Swat and elsewhere.

“Needless to say, such a situation would not only embolden the militants on the one hand, on the other it would give the cynics in Washington and Kabul an excuse to point to Pakistan’s lack of ability and political will to fight this war,” commented a seasoned observer.

Clearly, therefore, the Bajaur operation is being watched closely by policy-makers in the US, and may shape that country’s strategy vis-à-vis Pakistan and the tribal areas, Bush’s July authorisation notwithstanding.

The stakes are equally high for the militants in Bajaur which, after Waziristan, is perhaps the second most significant stronghold of the militants.

Militant leader Maulvi Faqir Muhammad is the deputy to Baitullah Mehsud’s Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan, whose fighters are not only waging a war against Pakistani security forces but are also involved actively in the ‘jihad’ in Afghanistan, particularly in the bordering eastern province of Kunar. Faqir Muhammad is known to wield a lot of influence over militants operating in Swat under Maulana Fazlullah, who draws strength and support in large measure from Bajaur.

Militants in the Mohmand tribal region would also be watching the operation in neighbouring Bajaur with a great deal of anxiety, since the triumphs and losses of their comrades in arms and ideology may also decide their own fate.

Having said this, however, much would depend on the strategy the government adopts in the post-operation scenario, to consolidate its grip over Bajaur in order to prevent the resurgence of the militants, and to introduce a rehabilitation package for hundreds of thousands of Bajauris.

Officials say that a one-time package of $7.2 million is ready for such an intervention, based mostly on commitments made by international donors. But the full success of the entire operation will also be determined by how quickly, efficiently and transparently this rehabilitation process is carried out and implemented.

Victory for either side may not be soon in the coming, but one thing is certain: it may largely determine the future course of events in Pakistan.

Battle to be won or lost in Bajaur -DAWN - Top Stories; September 21, 2008

 

[fatman17]

there is a section of the media who thinks this war cannot be won and the FATA will eventually be part of afghanistan under a new durand-line. pls note this is not my opinion. i feel that pakistan has to deal with this militancy without outside interference. therefore the Bajaur ops has to be taken to its logical end - the defeat of TTP. pakistan must not shy from getting help from its allies (i.e. CI trg etc)

 

[fatman17]

ASIA PACIFIC

Date Posted: 19-Sep-2008

Jane's Defence Weekly

Pakistan-US relations strained by border ops

Farhan Bokhari JDW Correspondent - Islamabad

Key Points
The Pakistani and US presidents are to meet on the sidelines of the UN general assembly as relations between the two countries become strained

The US faces a dilemma in trying to keep its alliance with Pakistan intact while combating what it considers to be a growing threat from the border region


Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will meet with US President George Bush on 23 September on the sidelines of the UN general assembly session in New York, seeking to forestall a further slide in his country's relations with Washington, senior Pakistani and US officials have said.

The meeting comes as relations remained tense over the US's rules of military engagement in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region and amid reports - which Pakistani officials have denied - that Pakistani forces have been ordered to use force in the event of US incursions.

On 3 September a US special forces team, believed to be US Navy Seals, carried out an attack on a cluster of three houses in Pakistan's Waziristan region, almost 15 km from the Afghan border. At least 15, and by some accounts 20, people were killed, including up to eight women and children.

The attack was the first verified incursion by US forces into Pakistan's territory. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Jane's that the attack came after clearance from the "top levels of US government in selective cases where there is strong indication of the presence of high-ranking terrorist targets". Reports that Bush gave clearance in July for selective attacks by ground forces in Pakistani territory remain unconfirmed.

Since the 3 September raid at least three missile attacks by US unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based in Afghanistan have been carried out against suspected militant targets in Pakistan's border region, prompting a wave of government and public protests in Pakistan.

One of these killed at least five people in Baghar in South Waziristan on 17 September, just a day after Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, General Ashfaq Kiyani, chief of the army staff, and other officials. The five killed were believed to be members of Hezb-i-Islami: an insurgent group led by Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

According to Pakistani officials, Adm Mullen offered assurances that the US would respect Pakistan's territorial integrity - assurances that were questioned in light of the subsequent UAV strike. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan's foreign minister, said the attack on Baghar suggested "an institutional disconnect" between different branches of the US military.

Western defence officials stationed in Islamabad said the US was faced with a dilemma in trying to keep its alliance with Pakistan intact while combating what it considers to be a growing threat from the border region.

However, Pakistani analysts warned that attacks inside Pakistani territory could destabilise the country and even force a break in its alliance with the US. "The danger is that, by pushing Pakistan into a corner, the Americans are even pressuring the Pakistani military. How can this war continue if the Pakistani military feels cornered?" asked Talat Masood, a former Pakistani military commander.

Western officials said Zardari's primary purpose in the meeting with Bush would be to seek an understanding for the US to ease the pressure on the border so Zardari can win more support from the Pakistani public for a new, intensive campaign against the militants.

"The big question is not if we continue with this campaign," a Western ambassador based in Islamabad told Jane's . "The bigger question is who must be the central player in doing this in Pakistani territory: America or Pakistan?"

Jane's Login

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

there is a section of the media who thinks this war cannot be won and the FATA will eventually be part of afghanistan under a new durand-line.

The Americans would love that - bomb away at will. Better make sure we provide cell phones to as many people as we can since the usual denials will reign until cell phone footage surfaces...

Not sure that it will pass muster politically, or publicly - not least of all with the residents of FATA themselves. Remember that the only reason such a plan would come to pass is if the US thinks it cannot win unless it has carte blanche in FATA - i.e the war is still ongoing. No one in their right mind is going to willingly become a part of an Afghanistan ruled by a US puppet and open themselves up to US military assaults.

Not to mention the extreme hostility towards the US displayed by the Tribes in FATA after the SOF raid.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Network of tunnels found in Bajaur​

By Anwarullah Khan

KHAR, Sept 22: A senior official claimed on Monday that security forces had unearthed a network of tunnels and bunkers in the strongholds of militants in the Bajaur tribal region. He also said that six militants had been killed and eight injured in artillery attacks in Mamond Tehsil on Sunday night.

Muhammad Jamil, assistant political agent, told journalists that ground forces had started moving towards Lowi Sam, some 14 kilometres northwest of Khar.

He said that troops, backed by artillery and tanks, were advancing slowly because the militants were well entrenched and had planted bombs on roads.

The official said that the tunnels and bunkers had been found in Tang Khatta, Rashakai, Kausar and Khazana areas of the Khar tehsil.

“These tunnels were interconnected with houses enabling militants to move easily from one position to another.” Mr Jamil also said that the militants were using hit and run tactics.

Meanwhile, the Mamond tribe was reported on Monday to be planning to organise a lashkar against militants.

Earlier, the Salarzai tribe had organised a lashkar which destroyed houses of the militants’ supporters in the area. Local people said that the lashkar set on fire more houses of pro-Taliban elements on Monday.

Network of tunnels found in Bajaur -DAWN - Top Stories; September 23, 2008

-----------------------------------------

This is going to be a tough, drawn out fight.

 

[muse]

We have read statements to the effect that the militants are better armed, have better comm equipment, use tactics that the army says are "mind boggling", now we learn that the ranks of the militants are swelling - possibly because army and/or FC cannot or are unable to control entry/access to the region:

Is it fair to ask whether the Fauj has not been deluding itself and the nation about it's abilty to fight anything? any foe?

Yes, in such a circumstance such a question may seem harsh and unduly critical, but it must be kept in mind that the Fauj that can do miracles in wars has been found not just ineffective but down right incompetent - and the question must be raised inside the Fauj and outside.

How is it that after 7 years, the Fauj is still unprepared, still under equipped, still does not have comm equipment necessary, still does not have the intelligence required by about the logistics network and capablity of the militants -- if it is true that large numbers of militants are present in Bajaur , Mohmand, Swat and Waziristan in general, is it not reasonable to ask how it is possible that the Fauj has been so reckless, so incompetent, so inefficient - indeed, if this local, internal threat cannot be overcome efficiently, what confidence have we that external forces, which may be even better equipped than these militants can be challeneged effectively by the Fauj??

Focus on big ticket items and not small force multipliers is a major deficiency - a simple thing like secure comm equipment, appears not to be so simple at all, sniper rifles are not required in the hundreds and thousands, and yet even in this regard the Fauj is deficient.

A major overhaul ought to be considered, fighting yesteryears wars is all good and fine in the class room, but if the Fauj cannot do a good job of analysis with regard to evolving conflicts and tactics and cannot develop the doctrine, tactics and training required and cannot develop specialized units in numbers that can overwhelm the enemy, then assistance may be required - this cure is worse than the disease, as it would open the Fauj to undesirable influences.

Gen. Kiyani is on a official visit to China and in some circles there is a hope attached to this visit - yet no available evidence allows us to conclude that such a hope has any basis in reality and has more of a political substance than any relief on the ground.

Th Fauj is numerically large, inefficient, fat. It is not an efficient killing machine and it's primary function is to be a efficient killing machine on a number of differing battle fields.

Should the Fauj remain a corpulent and inefficient machine whose primary function is an arena of career development and not a highly efficient and effective, lean, killing machine, Pakistani security policy will have to be realigned; such a development will not only have social consequences for the Fauj but the nation itself. A redoubling, tripling and quadruling of efforts to ensure that the Fauj is on a trajectory that will see the creation of a refined, lean, efficient, lethal force that can effectively accomplish it's mission of protecting Pakistanis and Pakistan, is required.

 

[Durran3]

There is without a doubt some foreign intelligence services involved in arming these small militant groups. I think the Pakistan army should immediately confiscate the weapons of those being killed and quickly start researching and analyzing where they are coming from and who is supply these sophisticated weapons.

Seems like proxy wars if you ask me.

 

[Spring Onion]

There is without a doubt some foreign intelligence services involved in arming these small militant groups. I think the Pakistan army should immediately confiscate the weapons of those being killed and quickly start researching and analyzing where they are coming from and who is supply these sophisticated weapons.

Seems like proxy wars if you ask me.

We know the players involved in this ongoing proxy against Pakistan . We also know the origion and facilitators of the weapons transportation to the terrorists.

But the problem is we are too much stucked up, we have to fight at many fronts. On the one hand we have to show some eyes to the world power and regional bullies while on the other hand we have to act wisely and ignore rationalism as it will only harm us.

We can not directly take on the superpower as at the end of the day we still need things from them to make our defence strong.
They harmed us alot but at the same time they are the one whom we can make bound due to some of their compulsions to cooperate with us while we can not force other blocks for that cooperation at least not at this stage.

 

[muse]

Jana


If what you say is true, why not tell the Pakistani public the truth - why not bust open this can of worms and let those are supporting such things deal with the repercussions?

Don't you think it is really stupid to keep the Pakistani people in the dark about this?

 

[muse]

Jana

This one's for you - you will read between the lines



A theatre for a new 'cold war'
Gulfnews: A theatre for a new 'cold war'

09/23/2008 07:39 AM | By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief, Al Ain

The deadly blast at Marriott Hotel in the top security area of Islamabad, the nation's federal capital, has convulsed Pakistan's social, political, and security fabric. It has taken the foreign policy and security debate to the boiling point where the new government has to take certain critical strategic decisions.
The South Asian nuclear armed nation has currently been in the most difficult phase of its history. Its political leadership has been facing severe pressure in the wake of ongoing military operation in the Tribal and North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the US cross-border attacks in Pakistan, rising inflation, electricity shortage, and economic crises.

Other political parties, including the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), have polarised the public opinion on issues.
The blast shredded the hotel and triggered a fire that raged for hours through the building, killing more than 53 innocent people and injuring 250 others.

The attack was conducted when people, including women and children, were gathered for Iftar dinner in Ramadan - a month in which Islam strictly prohibits bloodshed and war to its followers.

The deeply divided political leadership on the so-called "war on terror", apparently looks blind to the dire consequences the country could face and sticking to their predetermined agendas.

An overwhelming majority of the people are, in fact, tired of the continuous death and destruction and the so-called US-led "war on terror", thus leaving a limited space for President Asif Ali Zardari to manoeuvring on the daunting challenges on both national and international fronts.

He is currently visiting Washington and people expect from him bold and critical decisions with a degree of urgency.

The September 20 blast is virtually an attack on Pakistan's very heart and could be part of a broader conspiracy against Pakistan. It was undoubtedly well-planned and carried out with sophistication to deliver a stern message to Islamabad to reconsider its policies.

The target would have been the Parliament House where the entire top military brass and government machinery was sitting under one roof with a strange and high risk negligence.

Succeeded

The terrorists have, however, succeeded in fanning the existing anti-American public sentiments, confusion among the leadership, and shattering the nation's confidence on the security and intelligence apparatus.
Though Pakistan has blamed Taliban for the attack, so far no organisation has accepted its responsibility. The battle against Al Qaida and Taliban militants has also cost the lives of more than 1,300 people in Pakistan this year.

What, in fact, has been baffling the experts is the provision of training, high quantity of weapons and explosive material, the sophisticated communication links, and selection of high value target in Pakistan.

Some high ranking officials in Islamabad have also pointed a finger to covert foreign hands for their involvement in the blast as part of their effort to destabilise the post-Musharraf Pakistan when it is standing on a critical junction.

After the Marriott blast, the chances of Pakistan's becoming the fresh centre of the new cold war with the resurgent Russia have increased.

Confusion also continues to hunt Pakistan, the US, and their other allies in identifying the two elements of militancy. One is Pakistan's own tribesmen who are against the bombing of their areas by the Pakistani security forces.
The second is the foreign militants that are not only using Pakistani territory as a sanctuary, but also creating problems across the border in Afghanistan. This latter is also exploiting the anti-government sentiments of the local militants to use them for strikes in the country.

It has become paramount for Islamabad to first remove the impression of fighting the US war on its soil from the minds of its own people. It was at one stage an American war, but it has now become Pakistan's own war to clean its own corridor from home grown militants and foreign elements.

Bringing peace and stability on Pakistan's western border must carry a high importance for Islamabad and its Western allies to preventing the start of a looming cold war in the region.

During his current visit to the US, Zardari must convince President George W. Bush and Nato to restrict their activities only inside Afghanistan as per the UN mandate.

Islamabad, however, should not disengage Washington completely, but persuade it to understand the rapidly changing situation when Russia is looking poise to turn the table in Afghanistan on the US and its allies.
Both the US and Pakistan should not forget that the same country - Afghanistan - that led to the breakup of former Soviet Union has all the ingredients to become a battlefield to teach them a bitter lesson.

The Hamad Karzai-led Afghan government is backed by Northern Alliance, an alliance of anti-Taliban Afghan groups that is also anti-Pakistan and has close links with Pakistan's arch rival India, a former staunch ally of the former Soviet Union.

If the front is extended to Pakistan, it would destabilise the entire South Asian region with a strong fall out for the Middle East and other parts of the world.

The US economy is already under pressure and an escalation in Afghan war with a destabilised Pakistan will be devastating.

Kremlin has now been acting fast to prevent Washington's strategic encroachments in Europe and Asia, and is ready to en-cash their blunders. Georgia and Ukraine are already facing the heat of a militarily resurgent Russia.

 

[tauruscheeta]

As pointed out in the article about the training, communication equipment , quality of weapons and the motivation of these terrorist it is certainly an uphill task for the forces dealing with them.
The govermental forces have also to cosider of likely civilian casualties and the counter action of terrorist by diverting the war to cities.
one thing is very prominent from the very begining that our intelligence agencies failed miserably to keep an eye on these element within the country. Domestic intelligence system needs a shake up.

IF YOU ARE FORE WARNED YOU ARE FORE ARMED

 

[niaz]

there is a section of the media who thinks this war cannot be won and the FATA will eventually be part of afghanistan under a new durand-line. pls note this is not my opinion. i feel that pakistan has to deal with this militancy without outside interference. therefore the Bajaur ops has to be taken to its logical end - the defeat of TTP. pakistan must not shy from getting help from its allies (i.e. CI trg etc)

I have watched nearly all Capital talk, Left/Right, Kamraan kay Sath, Insight and 50 Minutes programs for the last couple of years. The conclusion that I draw (I hope that I am wrong) is that Pakistan is looking into an abyss.

Virtually all of PML(N) and most of the media anchors and a large majority of columnists, also the participants in the debates; barring occasional mavericks, always qualify their condemnation with a :BUT: Most of these believe that we are fighting US’s war and these attacks are actually in “Revenge’ against action of the US or of Pakistan Army.

To a listener (including me) this creates an impression that it is the Taliban who are the victims and need sympathy. Any one who has heard Javed Hashmi of PML (N) on Left/Right just after the Islamabad blast would have heard Javed Hash saying “yes if this is justification, then I am justifying it”. If Islamabad blast couldn’t make people change their mind, nothing will.

When the polity is so divided, how can an army fight a war? This polarization must be right down the entire cross section including the security agencies, the PA and civil bureaucracy.
How else a truck full of explosives was able to reach inside the capital so easily? Or arms allowed to be accumulated inside the Lal Masjid when ISI Headquarter is barely a stones throw away. In my opinion PA has already lost the war against the militants, not due to lack of capability but due lack of political will to see the things thru to the bitter end.

What can one say that when Pakistanis are willing to see their brethren killed in Islamabad, but keep on trying very hard to put the blame or other agencies and foreign interference instead of the people who have actually carried this dastardly act. That spells doom for Pakistan. There is no doubt that Indian and Afghans and may be the US is trying to de stabilize Pakistan, but how can you only blame the seller of the gun but not on the person who actually fired the gun. IMO, no matter what the reasons, nothing justifies the kind of action that destroyed the Marriott, apparently not so to PML (N) and Javed Hashmi.

It is a poison pill to swallow, but mullahs are on the way to destroy Pakistan which they never wanted in the first place. We keep on hearing that these people can’t be Muslims, not true; these people actually are orthodox Muslims and most of them believe that they are doing Allah’s work! Only way out of this mess to find another Ata Turk to root out the evil of Islamic militancy. But I am a lone voice and am reconciled to the fact that each time I go to my village, I will have to grow a beard and keep my eyes down. As Faiz said sometime ago:

Chalee hai rasm kay koi na sir uthaa key chaley….

 

[Spring Onion]

Jana


If what you say is true, why not tell the Pakistani public the truth - why not bust open this can of worms and let those are supporting such things deal with the repercussions?

Don't you think it is really stupid to keep the Pakistani people in the dark about this?

Sir i had questioned the same very emotionaly when we arrested few people in Swat from across the broder.
But then when i was told about the problems and compulsuions we are having i understood its too difficult to act rationaly.

We have to bragian the arrest and not disclose many things for recovering people of a friendly country abdcuted by terrorists.

 

[muse]

We have to bragian the arrest and not disclose many things for recovering people of a friendly country abdcuted by terrorists

Yes understood, however; we were already warned about this and yet we allowed the people from the friendly country to tavel without a strong security escort

How many times must we fail before the so called security agencies begin assuring us of security

Keeping these things quiet is a major mistake - Pakistanis do not know which side they are on and the incompetence demonstrated does not allow the Pakistani people to be on the side of the government -- Like Osama said, people want toput their bet on the winning horse, thus far it isn't Pakistan.

 

[Spring Onion]

We have read statements to the effect that the militants are better armed, have better comm equipment, use tactics that the army says are "mind boggling", now we learn that the ranks of the militants are swelling - possibly because army and/or FC cannot or are unable to control entry/access to the region:

Is it fair to ask whether the Fauj has not been deluding itself and the nation about it's abilty to fight anything? any foe?

Yes, in such a circumstance such a question may seem harsh and unduly critical, but it must be kept in mind that the Fauj that can do miracles in wars has been found not just ineffective but down right incompetent - and the question must be raised inside the Fauj and outside.

How is it that after 7 years, the Fauj is still unprepared, still under equipped, still does not have comm equipment necessary, still does not have the intelligence required by about the logistics network and capablity of the militants -- if it is true that large numbers of militants are present in Bajaur , Mohmand, Swat and Waziristan in general, is it not reasonable to ask how it is possible that the Fauj has been so reckless, so incompetent, so inefficient - indeed, if this local, internal threat cannot be overcome efficiently, what confidence have we that external forces, which may be even better equipped than these militants can be challeneged effectively by the Fauj??

Focus on big ticket items and not small force multipliers is a major deficiency - a simple thing like secure comm equipment, appears not to be so simple at all, sniper rifles are not required in the hundreds and thousands, and yet even in this regard the Fauj is deficient.

A major overhaul ought to be considered, fighting yesteryears wars is all good and fine in the class room, but if the Fauj cannot do a good job of analysis with regard to evolving conflicts and tactics and cannot develop the doctrine, tactics and training required and cannot develop specialized units in numbers that can overwhelm the enemy, then assistance may be required - this cure is worse than the disease, as it would open the Fauj to undesirable influences.

Gen. Kiyani is on a official visit to China and in some circles there is a hope attached to this visit - yet no available evidence allows us to conclude that such a hope has any basis in reality and has more of a political substance than any relief on the ground.

Th Fauj is numerically large, inefficient, fat. It is not an efficient killing machine and it's primary function is to be a efficient killing machine on a number of differing battle fields.

Should the Fauj remain a corpulent and inefficient machine whose primary function is an arena of career development and not a highly efficient and effective, lean, killing machine, Pakistani security policy will have to be realigned; such a development will not only have social consequences for the Fauj but the nation itself. A redoubling, tripling and quadruling of efforts to ensure that the Fauj is on a trajectory that will see the creation of a refined, lean, efficient, lethal force that can effectively accomplish it's mission of protecting Pakistanis and Pakistan, is required.

If on one side is Fauj VS big power/s arming Proxy taliban who will be better equipped???


Should we need to eleborate the locations of all the consulates in Afghanistan.

Sir just go and check the locations with map in hands and then analyse what is the improtance of these consulates in fanning terrorism in Pakistan.

Plus the recent joining of hands by UK and German intellegence with CIA/RAW in Afghanistan against Pakistan has worsened the situation.

No doubt we have internal elements challenging the writ of the governement but the strings of these elements arein hands of outsiders.
Both are working for own agendas.

US could not sustain war in Iraq even despite being super power and well equipped how can you expect all out victory by our army who is fighting at many fronts at the same time.

1. internal
2. against external elements as well
3. blocking Indian aggression
4. Blocking conspiracies by political sell outs.
5. safegaurding nukes.
6. trying hard to get equipment for defence against all odds.