TTP managed Charsadda attack from Afghanistan: COAS

[RescueRanger]

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif on Thursday said that the armed attack on Bacha Khan University, Charsadda in Pakistan’s northwest was managed from Afghanistan.

According to ISPR, the COAS telephoned Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, chief executive Abdullah Abdullah and US commander in Afghanistan General John Campbell and shared the details of gathered information in connection with Wednesday’s deadly attack on the university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Pakistan Army Chief said an operative of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan issued instructions to the terrorists in Charsadda from a location in Afghanistan.

General Raheel Sharif sought cooperation of Afghanistan in tracing and hunting down the militants, who perpetrated the deadly attack on Bacha Khan University, in which 21 people lost their lives, mostly students.

Hours after the attack on Wednesday, DG ISPR Lt Gen Asim Bajwa in a media briefing had shared that two cell phones which were in terrorists’ use had been seized. He said even after the terrorists were killed, one of the mobile phones was still getting calls from an Afghan SIMcard.

He said the gathered information confirms who the terrorists were and where they were operating from. He said more clues were being gathered from the seized cell phones.

- See more at: http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/92...ck-from-Afghanistan-COAS#sthash.zp1vFVMG.dpuf

 

[dadeechi]

Seems like Pakistan is preparing ground to invade Afghanistan.

 

[RescueRanger]

Even if it was managed from say Karachi slums/NWFP , the army will never admit it as it would be an admission of failure of Dard-e-Kabz or whatever that operation was named.
Not saying that pak army is lying , just saying that we should all take this news with a pinch of salt.

By the same token, we should take anything coming out of New Delhi with a bag of salt! As far as Pakistan is concerned our military operation was successful in driving back the tide of terrorism, the proof is in the numbers:

Seems like Pakistan is preparing ground to invade Afghanistan.

Not likely.

 

[dadeechi]

Not likely.

Why? I have seen both PM & COAS make a statement implicating Afghanistan. There seem to be wide spread public support too (at least from what I read on this forum). So what is stopping?

I am pretty sure China and Russia would support Pakistan in this effort.

 

[RescueRanger]

Why? I have seen both PM & COAS make a statement implicating Afghanistan. There seem to be wide spread public support too (at least from what I read on this forum). So what is stopping?

I am pretty sure China and Russia would support Pakistan in this effort.

Your government has blamed Pakistan for Mumbai and PK. Did they invade Pakistan? Come on man, think a little less laterally.

 

[AugenBlick]

By the same token, we should take anything coming out of New Delhi with a bag of salt! As far as Pakistan is concerned our military operation was successful in driving back the tide of terrorism, the proof is in the numbers:

Not likely.

You have ran into what is called the law of diminishing returns.

Which is a simple way of saying that more bombs will not equal less terrorism. You need to change strategies like actually being tolerant of non muslims for a change.

 

[dadeechi]

Your government has blamed Pakistan for Mumbai and PK. Did they invade Pakistan? Come on man, think a little less laterally.

1) Pakistan has achieved equality with India. The same is not the case with Afghanistan.

2) Afghanistan government really does not have control on most parts of their country and their army is not in a position to do a Zarb-e-Azb type operation in their country.

3) Pakistan has already taken the first step in cleaning up the mess with the Zarb-e-Azb. Doesn't it make sense to extended it into Afghanistan for a complete success?

 

[RescueRanger]

1) Pakistan has achieved equality with India. The same is not the case with Afghanistan.

2) Afghanistan government really does not have control on most parts of their country and their army is not in a position to do a Zarb-e-Azb type operation in their country.

3) Pakistan has already taken the first step in cleaning up the mess with the Zarb-e-Azb. Doesn't it make sense to extended it into Afghanistan for a complete success?

Our plan for Afghanistan is containment, not control. Not Alexander, not the Empire, not the Russians not even NATO/ISAF could control Afghanistan.

 

[dadeechi]

Our plan for Afghanistan is containment, not control. Not Alexander, not the Empire, not the Russians not even NATO/ISAF could control Afghanistan.

So is Pakistan mining the Afghan-Pakistan border? How is Pakistan planning to control. So far India seems unable to control the Indo-Pakistan border. May be India can learn a lesson or two Pakistan if Pakistan is successful.

 

[RescueRanger]

So is Pakistan mining the Afghan-Pakistan border? How is Pakistan planning to control. So far India seems unable to control the Indo-Pakistan border. May be India can learn a lesson or two Pakistan if Pakistan is successful.

Stage 1: Trench along the border = Complete

Stage 2: Israel style wall along the border = In progress

Stage 3: Denying potential miscreants safe harbour, facilitators and logistics = Never be 100%

Stage 4: Countering Extremist Narrative = In Progress. [https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/...pportunities-and-obstacles-for-civil-society]

Stage 5: Capacity building of local LE, Public Safety, Local Security Infrastructure and Fusion Centres.

Non of this will be 100% but it's a good start.

 

[Amaa'n]

You have ran into what is called the law of diminishing returns.

Which is a simple way of saying that more bombs will not equal less terrorism. You need to change strategies like actually being tolerant of non muslims for a change.

and that is to be decided by you whether we have reached that point or not?

i do not see how you have concluded this because events from past few day tell a different tale:

1) after attack the first thing we did was - Communicate the issue with Afghan Govt, ISAF commander & US Rep in Afghanistan
2) During press briefing - Lt.Gen specifically said that at no point it was said Afghan Govt is involved --- hence Pakistan recognizes the govt

with mutual efforts of all parties, they can come up with a solution, because if allowed to breed untouched --- US will have to face the bigger monster then AQ & Taliban and that is IS in Afghanistan ----

1) Pakistan has achieved equality with India. The same is not the case with Afghanistan.

2) Afghanistan government really does not have control on most parts of their country and their army is not in a position to do a Zarb-e-Azb type operation in their country.

3) Pakistan has already taken the first step in cleaning up the mess with the Zarb-e-Azb. Doesn't it make sense to extended it into Afghanistan for a complete success?

 

[tarrar]

Ok, but are the steps taken to counter this threat?

What Pakistan has done successfully so far is that Pakistan has successfully defeated the small fishes but all the big fishes have escaped into Afghanistan & are calmly sitting in the laps of their facilitators & financiers (Afghanistan, India & US). Also Pakistan has failed to seal the borders which has resulted in cross border terrorism from Afghanistan side over & over again. It may be difficult to fence the border but mining the border from head to toe & that to heavily is not impossible also I don't know why PA is not willing to use Armed drones to monitor the illegal activity on the border. It does not end here, the worse part is nothing has been done to deport the Afghan refugees from Pakistan which is a open recruiting ground for foreign agencies.

Everything needs to be systematically & hard steps need to be taken, but if nothing is done then terrorism against Pakistan will continue.

 

[AugenBlick]

nd that is to be decided by you whether we have reached that point or not?

i do not see how you have concluded this because events from past few day tell a different tale:

1) after attack the first thing we did was - Communicate the issue with Afghan Govt, ISAF commander & US Rep in Afghanistan
2) During press briefing - Lt.Gen specifically said that at no point it was said Afghan Govt is involved --- hence Pakistan recognizes the govt

with mutual efforts of all parties, they can come up with a solution, because if allowed to breed untouched --- US will have to face the bigger monster then AQ & Taliban and that is IS in Afghanistan ----

Words , gestures and statements are meaningless and cheap. Numbers is what I am talking about. Sure that anti-terrorist drive reduced numbers but it could not stop either APS or Bacha Khan or other recent attacks.
The proof of pudding is in the eating. Structural changes are required in both Islam and pakistani psyche to stop terrorism. Kicking the ball uphill is not a solution.

 

[dadeechi]

Stage 1: Trench along the border = Complete

Stage 2: Israel style wall along the border = In progress

Stage 3: Denying potential miscreants safe harbour, facilitators and logistics = Never be 100%

Stage 4: Countering Extremist Narrative = In Progress. [https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/...pportunities-and-obstacles-for-civil-society]

Stage 5: Capacity building of local LE, Public Safety, Local Security Infrastructure and Fusion Centres.

Non of this will be 100% but it's a good start.

That looks impressive.

 

[RescueRanger]

Sure that anti-terrorist drive reduced numbers but it could not stop either APS or Bacha Khan or other recent attacks.

Tell me this, the US has the best, (THE BEST) fusion centre's in the world, their high risk public safety response is among the best, hell Daryl Gates (Ex LAPD) LAPD SWAT actually wrote the book on (SWAT Tactics) . They can't prevent Sandy Hook and San Bernardino.

You can never have a 100% security umbrella, and this I am telling you as someone with 14 years public safety experience. All you can do is manage the risk, mitigate the risk and develop a proactive plan of action which is already under way as I have listed here: #11