Earthquake in Pakistan-2005 Army’s Relief Efforts

By Sajjad Shaukat

Undoubtedly, we always remember the innumerable services and sacrifices of the Pakistan’s Armed Forces, as noted in relation to the military operations again the terrorists—resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), floods, desilting of canals (Bhal Safai) etc, entailing restoration of law and order on many occasions. In the recent past, Armed Forces were in the frontline for people-salvage from areas of earthquake which hit Balochistan. During any natural calamity, the personnel of the Armed Forces coped with situation boldly.

In this regard, 8th October reminds the tragedy which Pakistan faced due the earthquake in 2005 and Pakistan’s Armed Forces again rose to the occasion to meet the aftermath courageously by contributing to the relief efforts.

At 8:50 a.m. local time, a magnitude Mw 7.6, the most powerful earthquake struck the Himalayan region of northern Pakistan and Kashmir. The earthquake epicenter was located approximately 9 km. north northeast of the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir, known as Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). The main focus of death and destruction targeted northern Pakistan in a wide swath from Peshawar to Azad Kashmir.

Media attention riveted the first morning on rescue efforts directed at the two collapsed blocks of “Margalla Towers” in Islamabad’s posh F-10 sector, diverting attention from the massive human and material devastation in Azad Kashmir, Kaghan and Kohistan valleys till hours later. With electricity and telephones lines down reports about a greater disaster in the mountains came in patches, eg 30% houses collapsed in Mansehra, 60% in Muzaffarabad, 80% in Rawalakot and Balakot etc, entire villages perched on the hillsides disappearing in mudslides. In the next 24 hours 40 aftershocks (of which only 17-18 were perceptible) added to the panic.

The Pakistani government’s official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350, although it is estimated that the death toll could reach over 100,000. Approximately 38,000 were injured and over 3.5 million rendered homeless. According to government figures, 19,000 children died in the earthquake, most of them in widespread collapses of school buildings. The earthquake affected more than 500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter.

It is estimated that more than 780,000 buildings were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and many more were rendered unusable for extended periods of time. Out of these, approximately 17,000 school buildings and most major hospitals close to the epicenter were destroyed or severely dam-aged. Lifelines were adversely affected, especially the numerous vital roads and highways which were closed by landslides and bridge failures. Several areas remained cut off via land routes even three months after the main event. Power, water supply, and telecommunication services were down for varying lengths of time, although in most areas services were restored within a few weeks.

Massive landsliding was a particular feature of this event. A very dense, high-frequency band of landslides was triggered along the fault rupture trace in the midslope areas; however, it quickly dissipated with distance away from the fault rupture zone. Almost all landslides were shallow, disaggregated slides, with two of them larger than 0.1 km2. Due to the generally arid landscape, liquefaction was not observed or reported by others.

However, it was the most powerful earthquake to hit this region in 100 years. The critical Karokoram Highway (KKH) remains blocked due to landslides in many places along its entire 600 kms length. So is the main road to Muzaffarabad. Nevertheless, some alternate roads had been cleared; evacuating casualties to nearest hospitals and providing supplies was almost totally dependent upon helicopters.

Limited by numbers in coping with the magnitude of the devastation, Army Aviation helicopters did magnificent work, keeping the relief momentum going. Pakistan’s MI-8s and MI-17s were not enough to cope with such a catastrophe. My heart goes out for the helicopter crews. Chopper flying in such conditions takes its toll. The wear and tear on the helicopter and crews monitored closely, they pushed themselves beyond normal endurance limits. But, I say this with pride that in the face of this catastrophe our “eagles” did not listen and I salute them for their unmatched services in relation to the relief operations.

In this context, the then Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) initially confirmed 18000 dead and over 41000 injured. With villages perched precariously on sides of the mountains, and the timing (about 9 am) during Ramazan, one feared that this would be revised upwards many times over, it could well be beyond 60000 dead, a mind-boggling 90000 to 100000, even more. Almost all my company employees (security and courier personnel) from Azad Kashmir, Kaghan and Kohistan valleys lost some loved ones.

Pakistan Army paid immediate attention to disaster relief and to restore basic services of electricity, water etc.  No government can really plan for the worst. The first few days were always chaotic and haphazard. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf led from the front, showing the way by visiting nearly all disaster areas and many hospitals.

Although Pakistan’s civil authorities, NGOs, foreign entities, the US and other countries’ role is appreciable regarding provision of medical treatment, other basic needs to the affected persons of the earthquake, yet credit goes to Pak Army which played major role in this respect.

In this connection, a permanent “Crisis Management Agency” was established under the Chairman Joint Services Committee (CJSC) for effective coordination of ground, air and naval resources in support of the effort of the civil administration. In order to address the post-disaster issues—taking note that people would be without food and shelter, their children would be without schools, continuing medical care would be needed and rehabilitation thereof, etc. The short, medium and long-term economic consequences and remedial measures thereof had to be worked out, as each disaster has different dynamics.

First or all, the personnel of the Armed Forces proved the pre-position supplies, particularly potable water, meals ready to eat (MRE), medical requisites, blankets, tents etc. They included containerized field ambulance-medical units with doctors and medicines.

Besides, the problem of road closures was so significant that the Army dedicated 12 engineer battalions to open roads. Owing to the Army’s extensive experience with road building, and the availability of skilled builders in the mountain communities after many years of building the Karakoram Highway, the opening and reconstruction of roads was handled efficiently. At the time of the reconnaissance, the Jhelum ValleyRoad, the Kaghan Valley Road, and the Karakuram Highway had been cleared and opened. The Neelum Valley Road, the only other major road in the affected area, had only a 5-km stretch remaining to be cleared. While most major roads had been reopened, there is a vast network of tertiary roads serving the mountain community in the higher elevations. Many of these roads remain closed, cutting off populations which did not even experience the direct effects of the earthquake and hampering relief efforts.

And several bridges were damaged, especially within the Jhelum Valley and in Balakot. Personnel of the Pak Army repaired the bridges.

           

Nonetheless, on this very day, Pakistanis salute to their Army due to its unmatched contribution to the relief efforts in connection with the earthquake of 2005.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

DHERTI KA GEHNA

Think Twice Before Getting Jittery

By Sohail Parwaz

In the the second week of June 2015, the Indian Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, a former army officer, following an operation by Indian forces against alleged militant camps inside its northeastern neighbour Myanmar, threatened that the offensive was also ‘a message for Pakistan‘, which lies on its western border. The Indian media quoted the minister as saying, “India will strike at a place and at a time of our choosing” against all countries, including Pakistan, and groups harbouring “terror intent”.

This out of size statement came a day after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at Dhaka University in which he blamed Pakistan for spreading terrorism and fear in neighbouring India. Interestingly, in the very same speech he reminded the Bengali students about how India had intervened in Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war. Modi blamed that Every now and then Pakistan keeps disturbing India creates nuisance, promotes terrorism and such incidents keep recurring. Surprisingly, an immediate note was taken by the Pakistan’s foreign office’s spoke person who while referring to the Indian Prime Minister’s statement said that it confirms Pakistan’s stance on India’s negative character against a sovereign neighbouring state. That was the time when the Pakistani leaders had to explain India in the language, latter understands. It was categorically mentioned by the Pakistani leaders that Pakistan was a nuclear state and the country does not maintain a nuclear bomb merely on shelves as a decoration piece or to use it as a firecracker.

By now the nuclear tick-tock in South Asia has become a convoluted issue, as India, quite off and on threatens Pakistan of the calamitous consequences and eventually Pakistan has to remind its worthy neighbour about the possession of most urbane nuclear arsenals and the delivering options. In February this year the US government expressed her worries about the trigger-happy Indians who may attempt to nuke Pakistan, however the reason given sounds very illogical, pathetic and petty that in case if terrorists make another November 2008 Mumbai attack like attempt then Indians will cut loose their nuclear weapons. First of all Pakistan has neither believed or never thought of supporting any such acts nor will do so in future, nevertheless, if such incidents can become the reasons then by now Pakistan would have served at least one dozen of them to India and half to it to Afghanistan. The US Senate, government officials and researchers are showing a lost sleep about any probable Pakistani nuke attack in case of any Indian belligerence. On the other hand, General Khalid Kidwai, a former Director General of the Strategic Planning Division of Pakistan’s remarks made some time ago that Pakistan had enough nuclear weapons to ensure that a war in the subcontinent was no longer an option, clearly suggested that the nuclear deterrence debate in this region has been settled, once for all.

The access of terrorist groups to fissile materials in India is evident from the fact that the safety and security of nuclear sites in India has remained all along questionable. In fact after the rising of a radical and fanatic provincial level leader to the national altitude the safety of Indian nuclear program has become more doubtful. Hence in the prevailing scenario the chances of any stupidity by the adventurous Indian politicians like Modi and the black goggles of RAW have suddenly ascended.

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval confessed in one of his recent speeches that a ‘fourth generation’ war is being fought against Pakistan with different tactics and dimensions. Strategically speaking, India and Pakistan have their own threat perceptions, which have a common premise. India wants to be a strong nuclear state because of its fear of so called Chinese antagonism, while Pakistan also needs nuclear weapons because of its fear of Indian aggression. The only difference is that Pakistan has reached to a sophisticated level through an indigenous hard work and efforts while the Indians are directly or indirectly being helped by the US.

Although there are remote chances and possibilities of any industrial accident or other mishap on Pakistan’s side due to the classic security arrangements, yet most likely the jittery India would misinterpret any such mishap or troops move as a looming attack by Pakistan thus may push the ‘Button’ in panic. This issue has also been highlighted in a recently published book by Nathan E Busch: “Due to continual mistrust between the two countries, each would be likely to misinterpret military movements, missiles tests, or accidental detonations as an impending attack by the other side. The risks of misinterpreting each other’s motives are compounded by the vulnerabilities of their nuclear forces and the short flight times of the forces to key targets.”

When the strategic situation is so sensitive and alarming then it sounds logical to make the ‘audacious’ Indians understand about the disastrous fallout of their any probable immature nuclear or other adventure. There are few honest and blunt questions which the Indian policy makers, politicians and the flag-bearers of ‘fourth generation’ war must ask themselves.

The first and foremost thing which the Indians should seriously think about is the Pakistan’s retort in case of invading Pakistan. What the Indians should not forget is the placing and of positioning of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. They should never have a wrong impression about Pakistan’s intentions. It would be a disaster if the Indians would miscalculate the latter’s reaction. No wonder if that would be the time when the last screw of the nuke will be tightened by the Pakistanis.

The second important question which Mr. Modi should ask himself is about the guarantee for any limited war between the two, as he is dreaming of it. After all when there is a war between two, the opponent will never allow the other party to keep the war limited or restricted to a specific zone. So before making up their mind for any quest they must sincerely ask themselves that will the surety or the right to go for a limited war and that Pakistan will not change it into an all out war really stays with them? This is sensitive issue because once they will unfold the war; they will lose the initiative of rolling it back. Another important factor which they should never forget is the right to decide the intensity, level and extent of any menace of a limited war. The ‘ignorant invaders’ will have to keep it in mind that it will remain all along with Pakistan as a defender. It’s better to be late than to be sorry.

Thirdly, the Indians have detonated the nuke and that’s a fact. Irrespective of the debate that whatever quality or standard it is, nevertheless, they have yet not grown up and have not shown a least sign of being a conscientious nuclear state. They have not been able to comprehend it so far that, how one should behave while living in a nuclear neighbourhood. Nuclear South Asia is a phenomenon that the monkeys of Indian intelligence agencies have not been able to be aware of, thus can always jeopardize the peace balance in the region. Peeling off a peanut is altogether different from prodding a bomb. The sooner the Indians realise it, the more it would be in their own interest. Boasting and bragging should not be mingled up with sensitive decision making.

Lastly, Since Pakistan has ensured through a marathon research work and hard efforts the undisputed strategic equity in the region hence there are very remote chances of a conventional war between these two old rivals. For this reason the Indians must feed it to their narcissistic and overconfident minds that their land forces by no way should be permitted any foolish initiative or supposed ascendancy to trigger a conflict which later turns into a full fledge war that the Indian strategists and top brass is unable to roll back or control.

It’s always pleasant to dream about the wishes which are otherwise unattainable and there is no ban on dreaming so one may dream about a conquest however that doesn’t guarantee a victory to the dreamer in reality too. Such dreams more often than not turn into horrible nightmares. It’s high time for our neighbours to think twice (better if it is thrice) before getting jittery for any stupid escapade.

Think Twice Before Getting Jittery

by Sohail Parwaz

In the second week of June 2015, the Indian Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, a former army officer, following an operation by Indian forces against alleged militant camps inside its northeastern neighbour Myanmar, threatened that the offensive was also ‘a message for Pakistan‘, which lies on its western border. The Indian media quoted the minister as saying, “India will strike at a place and at a time of our choosing” against all countries, including Pakistan, and groups harbouring “terror intent”.

This out of size statement came a day after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at Dhaka University in which he blamed Pakistan for spreading terrorism and fear in neighbouring India. Interestingly, in the very same speech he reminded the Bengali students about how India had intervened in Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war. Modi blamed that Every now and then Pakistan keeps disturbing India creates nuisance, promotes terrorism and such incidents keep recurring. Surprisingly, an immediate note was taken by the Pakistan’s foreign office’s spoke person who while referring to the Indian Prime Minister’s statement said that it confirms Pakistan’s stance on India’s negative character against a sovereign neighbouring state. That was the time when the Pakistani leaders had to explain India in the language, latter understands. It was categorically mentioned by the Pakistani leaders that Pakistan was a nuclear state and the country does not maintain a nuclear bomb merely on shelves as a decoration piece or to use it as a firecracker.

By now the nuclear tick-tock in South Asia has become a convoluted issue, as India, quite off and on threatens Pakistan of the calamitous consequences and eventually Pakistan has to remind its worthy neighbour about the possession of most urbane nuclear arsenals and the delivering options. In February this year the US government expressed her worries about the trigger-happy Indians who may attempt to nuke Pakistan, however the reason given sounds very illogical, pathetic and petty that in case if terrorists make another November 2008 Mumbai attack like attempt then Indians will cut loose their nuclear weapons. First of all Pakistan has neither believed or never thought of supporting any such acts nor will do so in future, nevertheless, if such incidents can become the reasons then by now Pakistan would have served at least one dozen of them to India and half to it to Afghanistan. The US Senate, government officials and researchers are showing a lost sleep about any probable Pakistani nuke attack in case of any Indian belligerence. On the other hand, General Khalid Kidwai, a former Director General of the Strategic Planning Division of Pakistan’s remarks made some time ago that Pakistan had enough nuclear weapons to ensure that a war in the subcontinent was no longer an option, clearly suggested that the nuclear deterrence debate in this region has been settled, once for all.

The access of terrorist groups to fissile materials in India is evident from the fact that the safety and security of nuclear sites in India has remained all along questionable. In fact after the rising of a radical and fanatic provincial level leader to the national altitude the safety of Indian nuclear program has become more doubtful. Hence in the prevailing scenario the chances of any stupidity by the adventurous Indian politicians like Modi and the black goggles of RAW have suddenly ascended.

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval confessed in one of his recent speeches that a ‘fourth generation’ war is being fought against Pakistan with different tactics and dimensions. Strategically speaking, India and Pakistan have their own threat perceptions, which have a common premise. India wants to be a strong nuclear state because of its fear of so called Chinese antagonism, while Pakistan also needs nuclear weapons because of its fear of Indian aggression. The only difference is that Pakistan has reached to a sophisticated level through an indigenous hard work and efforts while the Indians are directly or indirectly being helped by the US.

Although there are remote chances and possibilities of any industrial accident or other mishap on Pakistan’s side due to the classic security arrangements, yet most likely the jittery India would misinterpret any such mishap or troops move as a looming attack by Pakistan thus may push the ‘Button’ in panic. This issue has also been highlighted in a recently published book by Nathan E Busch: “Due to continual mistrust between the two countries, each would be likely to misinterpret military movements, missiles tests, or accidental detonations as an impending attack by the other side. The risks of misinterpreting each other’s motives are compounded by the vulnerabilities of their nuclear forces and the short flight times of the forces to key targets.”

When the strategic situation is so sensitive and alarming then it sounds logical to make the ‘audacious’ Indians understand about the disastrous fallout of their any probable immature nuclear or other adventure. There are few honest and blunt questions which the Indian policy makers, politicians and the flag-bearers of ‘fourth generation’ war must ask themselves.

The first and foremost thing which the Indians should seriously think about is the Pakistan’s retort in case of invading Pakistan. What the Indians should not forget is the placing and of positioning of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. They should never have a wrong impression about Pakistan’s intentions. It would be a disaster if the Indians would miscalculate the latter’s reaction. No wonder if that would be the time when the last screw of the nuke will be tightened by the Pakistanis.

The second important question which Mr. Modi should ask himself is about the guarantee for any limited war between the two, as he is dreaming of it. After all when there is a war between two, the opponent will never allow the other party to keep the war limited or restricted to a specific zone. So before making up their mind for any quest they must sincerely ask themselves that will the surety or the right to go for a limited war and that Pakistan will not change it into an all out war really stays with them? This is sensitive issue because once they will unfold the war; they will lose the initiative of rolling it back. Another important factor which they should never forget is the right to decide the intensity, level and extent of any menace of a limited war. The ‘ignorant invaders’ will have to keep it in mind that it will remain all along with Pakistan as a defender. It’s better to be late than to be sorry.

Thirdly, the Indians have detonated the nuke and that’s a fact. Irrespective of the debate that whatever quality or standard it is, nevertheless, they have yet not grown up and have not shown a least sign of being a conscientious nuclear state. They have not been able to comprehend it so far that, how one should behave while living in a nuclear neighbourhood. Nuclear South Asia is a phenomenon that the monkeys of Indian intelligence agencies have not been able to be aware of, thus can always jeopardize the peace balance in the region. Peeling off a peanut is altogether different from prodding a bomb. The sooner the Indians realise it, the more it would be in their own interest. Boasting and bragging should not be mingled up with sensitive decision making.

Lastly, Since Pakistan has ensured through a marathon research work and hard efforts the undisputed strategic equity in the region hence there are very remote chances of a conventional war between these two old rivals. For this reason the Indians must feed it to their narcissistic and overconfident minds that their land forces by no way should be permitted any foolish initiative or supposed ascendancy to trigger a conflict which later turns into a full fledge war that the Indian strategists and top brass is unable to roll back or control.

It’s always pleasant to dream about the wishes which are otherwise unattainable and there is no ban on dreaming so one may dream about a conquest however that doesn’t guarantee a victory to the dreamer in reality too. Such dreams more often than not turn into horrible nightmares. It’s high time for our neighbours to think twice (better if it is thrice) before getting jittery for any stupid escapade.

The 6th September Demands

By: Sohail Parwaz

The 6^th of September is not just a calendar date to be remembered. It’s now recalled as the fortitude symbol. Fifty years have passed. Those, who born during 1965 are now knocking at the doors of old age. A couple of decades more and then may be no one would be there to relate or recount the firsthand account of this heroic and fearless battle which our gallant troops fought against a three times large adversary. For quite a long time our enemy India kept her face buried in shame and humiliation for two reasons; first they had no justification for this unprovoked and unannounced war and secondly despite waging an surprise war with an army much larger than its neighbor, the Indian government and the forces were disgraced and ruthlessly mortified. Nevertheless, with the passage of time the followers of Chanakya reverted to their conventional unethical tactics and instead of fighting an open war, they opted to fight a war of conspiracies and ploys which they had been doing since centuries against the Muslims like Haider Ali, Tipu Sultan and many others. There was no dearth of conscienceless scum like Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq who claimed to be Muslims and were available even now with new names and faces. After an unethical success in East Pakistan for which the shameless Indians proudly took a credit, our cunning neighbor started looking for more ‘Mirs’ in Pakistan and to their delight and contentment they found ample of them, beyond their expectations.

The Indians planned a parallel war; on media as well as on diplomatic front. In media they easily found the stuff for sale; the people who were otherwise average and so called journalists and were not worth given a damn about and in the political circles they spotted the politicians who were more interested in developing their personal business relations and ties with the Indian counterparts than solving the core issues like Kashmir and Baglihar Dam. Incidentally the combo worked and what they were gaining on political front was blown out of proportion through their media stooges. Gradually and discreetly they developed a force of disgraceful fifth columnists that was tasked to ridicule and belittle the armed forces of Pakistan and especially the Army, criticize them on every forum and front, target them and demonize them. These pseudo intellectuals also known as the liberals gleefully obeyed their masters merely for money and liquor. Many of them were caught red handed several times coming out of the Indian High Commission function after attending wet parties.

These disgraceful parasites, which are living and eating in Pakistan, have a lot of filth and venom to spit against the armed forces of the country but when it comes to praising the sons of the soil, one will find them short of words; may it is operation Zarb e Azb or the war against the economic terrorism. One will suddenly find them vanishing from the social sites like Twitter and Facebook which are otherwise choked with their mudslinging against the armed forces. These paid agents have another smart strategy to follow and that’s to utter every derogatory word against Pakistan and its armed forces in the name of media freedom but whenever they are rebutted or countered they make hue and cry and propagate that paid writers and journalists are writing on the behest of the army and ISI. They make these accusations without looking at their own self and characterless behavior. Well, once it comes to that then one prefers and takes pride in writing for his courageous and chivalrous forces and ISI then writing for the iniquitous and impious enemy India and its notorious agency RAW. Interestingly, they have been tasked to defame Pakistan army and distort the history of September 65 War as well and soon people will find these moles out of their holes.

The time has finally come to put these fifth columnists back in their shoes. It’s high time to fight a war against the media terrorists, after a successful war against the war on terror and an ongoing war against the economic terrorism. No one has any validation to stay in Pakistan and talk against this land of pure and its sacred organisations. If it really bothers them then they may feel free to leave Pakistan and go to their ‘Nanihaal’ (maternal land).

The historic day of 6^th September demands that these subverting elements be put back to the place they belong and that’s the bottom-line.

Aren’t Afghans Throwing Stone in Their Own Garden?

The things were gradually coming under control on the western front since the relations with Afghanistan were gearing up positively, however due to some self created misunderstandings by the Afghan authorities; there was a momentary hold-up in the relations between the two countries. The strange thing is that with the slight corrosion in the bilateral relations, out of the blue the terrorists activities inside Pakistan were at a notable rise which was a clear warning towards the fact that such heinous acts can’t take place without the abetment of some unknown elements of the Afghan authorities who still have a long to have romance with the Indians and their notorious intelligence agency RAW.

Pakistan, always had a great regard for the Afghan president Ashraf Ghani and has assured him Pakistan’s fullest support and so is the response reciprocated back by the latter however the Karzai loyalists still aggressively functional in the lower tiers of the Afghan government are incessantly creating hurdles for the sincere Afghan government. There were few terrorists attack launched in the recent past, leaving behind the foot prints enough to believe that the terrorists had a linkage and support by the elements of Afghan intelligence. However the Pak government and categorically the Pak armed forces have always shown remarkable tolerance and maturity while reacting on such terrorist acts from across the border. Pakistan’s foreign affairs advisor Mr. Sartaj Aziz had recently visited Afghanistan and made it clear to his Afghan counterpart that it’s becoming more and more hard for Pakistan to tolerate such irritating activities day by day.

Sadly, the ineffective and weak Afghan authorities didn’t succeed in controlling these border-crossings and finally the things came to a stage when on Friday, September 18, 2015, in the wee hours of the morning a group of thirteen to fourteen terrorists attacked a heavily-guarded Pakistan Air Force base in Badhaber area on the outskirts of Peshawar killing at least 29 persons posted at the base, most of them were either in the base’s mosque at that time or were preparing for the namaz.

Security officials said the attackers split into three groups after entering the camp, with two moving to a residential area. The third group approached the mosque and sprayed worshippers with bullets as they prayed. According to details the number of casualties was confirmed at 29, of which 15 were martyred in the mosque, 7 while performing ablution in the barracks next to the mosque, three army persons including one officer, embraced martyrdom while fighting the terrorists and four civilians employed at the base also met their maker. The encounter began immediately due to quick response. The attackers were clad in Frontier Constabulary (FC) uniforms, he said. Confirming the attack, ISPR said a clearance operation was underway.

While this analysis is being formed up, the Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa has confirmed the fears in a press conference that the terrorists who attacked Peshawar’s Badhaber airbase’s mosque came from and were controlled from Afghanistan. Addressing a media conference, he said the terrorists wanted to go further but were contained by the quick response force within 50 meter.

The most alleviating part about this operation against the terrorists is that the army troops were alert and watchful. Besides that the QRF (Quick Response Force reached the scene within no time to contain and surround the terrorists in the area of their choice where Captain Asfand Yar Bukhari took them on as the sitting ducks while leading his troops from the front and embraced Shahadat.

Following the attack, keeping up the tradition, Army chief General Raheel Sharif and Air Chief Sohail Aman immediately reached Peshawar to visit CMH to meet the injured army and PAF personnel. Later both the chiefs visited Badhaber base to meet the PAF, army and police troops who defeated the attackers and killed all terrorists. It looks as if the terrorists had the knowledge about the base being a radar station and fearing that it was monitoring their cross border, to and fro moments, and were specifically assigned the task to destroy it and inflict heavy life and asset losses.

Although a couple of claims have been made; one through an email to the media by one Khorasani group, a faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who has owned the responsibility for the attack while the other was a forecast by the intelligence agencies who issued a threat alert about a week ago for an attack on any military installation by Qari Saifullah group. The security official said initial investigations confirmed that the attackers had traveled in a vehicle from Bara Tehsil, Khyber Agency to Ghundi area of Jamrud Tehsil.

The attack is repulsed, area is cleared and the situation is well under control while the group sent for a carnage met its fate, nevertheless, it is the time to evaluate and analyse that what could be the possible reasons for such attempt from across the border, especially when Pakistan is extending its sincere hand for an all out cooperation with the Afghan government in every field. An impartial analysis suggests the following reasons:

1. The Afghan governmental set up is still infected with the Indian influence who are not happy about their ousting from the Afghan national affairs and are trying their best to mess up the rapidly improving Pak Afghan relations.

2. Either Afghan government has still not been able to neutralise the terrorists who have taken refuge in Afghan territory after being kicked out of FATA or they are not at all serious about putting them back in their shoes.

3. The Afghan ‘Kachi Basti’ near Sabzi Mandi Islamabad was recently bulldozed after the confirmed reports about the terrorists group residing and operating from there. Some elements of the Afghan government didn’t like that security action taken by the Pakistan government since it was a heaven and a hub for the terrorist activities anywhere in Pakistan.

Whatever the reasons are but one thing is for sure that the Badhaber attack has left behind a question mark on the Pak Afghan relations. If in the past the Afghan, ESAF troops and jets could violate Pak air space and land in the name of chasing and punishing the terrorists who were operating from FATA then what stops or bound Pakistan from chasing the terrorists and militants operating from the Afghan soil according to the confirmed reports? Pakistan certainly reserves the right to chase and chastise the culprits even if our troops have to go deep inside any neighboring country, may that be Afghanistan or some other dominion. General Raheel Sharif’s address on the Defense Day that, “May it be Hot Start or Cold Start, conventional or unconventional war, we are ready”, was not meant for the Indians only. The earliest the Afghan government realizes the consequences of such lapses and follies the better it would be in their own interest.

India, Destabilizing South Asian Security

By Sajjad Shaukat

Highlighting inter-related regional problems in his speech at the Central South Asia Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif said on September 29, this year, “Practical steps are required to manage Pak-Afghan borders for gainful conclusion of the military operation Zarb-e-Azb—Afghan instability had telling effects on the region”.

He stressed on all stake holders to revive reconciliation process, despite hurdles, and elaborated, “A peaceful Afghanistan can open regional connectivity—China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) benefits can be shared—it is essential for socio-economic development of the whole region”.

During his recent trip to UK, and during his interaction with the British top officials and addresses, Gen. Raheel Sharif again emphasized upon south Asian security. In this regard, he said our environment need to be understood by the world—we are fighting various terrorist groups, no new entities can be allowed to emerge—we want to finish terrorists and their nurseries, while, we also expect the international community to play its part for regional peace—terrorism is a global issue and it warrants global response—for long term success, funding of all terrorist outfits has to be checked by all—we are against use of proxies and won not allow it on our soil.”

Gen. Raheel indicated that India has been continuing border violations to divert attention of Pakistan from its war against terrorism.

However, South Asian security is not only important for Asian countries, but also for the US and other western countries and even for the whole world. In this respect, American, British, German leaders and high officials including those of other NATO countries appreciated progress of Pakistan to counter terrorism, and acknowledged the nation’s contribution towards regional peace and stability.

But, it is regrettable that India is destabilizing the regional countries in general and Afghanistan and Pakistan in particular. In order to obtain its secret designs, aimed at augmenting Indian hegemony in the region, India is foiling the peace process between Afghanistan and Pakistan by managing terrorist attacks like the recent ones in Afghanistan which revived old blame game against Islamabad.

In this respect, in the recent past, cordial relations were established between Pakistan and Afghanistan when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani realized that Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing similar challenges of terrorism and will combat this threat collectively. They also set up a mechanism to check infiltration of the militants through Pak-Afghan porous border.

While, it is misfortune that on direction of New Delhi and like the former regime of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s present rulers have also started accusing Pakistan of cross-border terrorism. In this context, after hours of the Taliban captured  Kunduz city, on September 28, 2015, during his address to the UNO General Assembly, Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah blamed Islamabad for carrying out cross-border attacks and destabilizing Afghanistan. On June 1, 2015 President Ashraf Ghani condemned Pakistan for waging undeclared war. Despite Islamabad’s rejection of these baseless allegations, and instance on Pak-Afghan joint cooperation against terrorism, this blame game continued.

In fact, in collusion with Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), Indian secret agency RAW has well-established its network in Afghanistan, and is fully assisting cross-border incursions and terror-activities in various regions of Pakistan through Baloch separatist elements and anti-Pakistan groups like Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundullah (God’s soldiers) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) including their affiliated outfits. They have also abducted and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals. In this connection, on September 18, this year, the TTP militants attacked a Pakistan Air Force camp in Badaber area, Peshawar and martyred 29 people including army personnel. In this regard, Pakistan’s civil and military sources pointed out that valiant personnel of the security forces thwarted the attempt of the heavily-armed TTP terrorists by stopping them to enter inside the base—and they came from Afghanistan, having connections with Indian RAW.

Notably, RAW is making efforts to weaken Afghanistan, Tibetan regions of China and Pakistan, especially Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities, promoting acrimonious sense of dissent, political volatility, sectarian violence and arousing sentiments of separatism.

It is mentionable that New Delhi which has already invested billion of dollars in Afghanistan, also signed a wide-ranging strategic agreement with that country on October 5, 2011. And, the then President Karzai had also signed another agreement with India to obtain Indian arms and weapons. While, under the cover of these agreements, India has further strengthened its grip in Afghanistan. By taking advantage of lawlessness in Afghanistan, India is up to its usual tirade to foment an environment by conducting terrorist attacks in that country to prove that Pakistan is creating trouble for Afghanistan.

It is notable that Gen. Raheel accompanied by the DG of ISI went to Kabul on December 17, 2014. During his meeting with his Afghan counterpart, President Ashraf Ghani and the ISAF commander, he presented the evidence of linkage between the massacre of children at Peshawar school and TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan. He also asked about action against the TTP and handing over of its chief Mullah Fazlullah to Pakistan.

Nevertheless, Indian desperation in Afghanistan is increasing in the backdrop of growing engagements of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US. Therefore, by arranging terror-assaults in Pakistan and Afghanistan, India is also thwarting the peace process between the Afghan officials and representatives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan, which started in Murree, Pakistan, on July 8, 2015 through a meeting, hosted by Islamabad, and in it, Chinese and American representatives, also participated. While, the US, China and Pakistan are jointly working to facilitate the process so as to bring peace both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the whole region.

In this backdrop, New Delhi is also trying to sabotage the CPEC. For the purpose, RAW has created a heavily funded China-Pakistan and Afghanistan specific desk to target growing Pak-China-Afghanistan relations.

Furthermore, on the instruction of the Indian leader of the fundamentalist party BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian forces have accelerated unprovoked shelling across the Line of Control and Working Boundary, while creating war-like situation between Pakistan and India.

Meanwhile, Pakistan raised the question of Indian cross-border terrorism and RAW involvement in Pakistan at the UNO forum, with strong evidence in light of open statements of Indian defence minister and prime minister who recently confirmed assistance to anti-Pakistan elements including separation of East Pakistan. Islamabad also raised the issues of Indian cross-border shelling and human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that waging a prolonged war in Afghanistan, the US and other NATO countries have realized that after the withdrawal of foreign troops, Afghanistan would be thrown in an era of uncertainly and civil war. They recognize the fact and terrorism or stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan has co-relationship. Therefore, US-led developed nations which also spent billions of dollars for the development of Afghanistan have repeatedly agreed that without Islamabad’s help, stability cannot be achieved there. Unfortunately, India does not intend to see peace in that country and is undermining regional stability by creating unrest in Afghanistan and some other countries, and by sabotaging their cordial relations.

So, these US-led developed countries must also show realistic approach by realizing that unlike India, Pakistan shares common geographical, historical, religious and cultural bonds with Afghanistan, while Pak-Afghan stability is inter-related, which is essential for their global and regional interests. Especially, America must abandon its faulty strategy in this region and double standard, and must check Indian secret strategy against Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, America, Russia, Iran and other Asian countries.

Nonetheless, in order to obtain its cover aims at the cost of larger interests of international community, India has been destabilizing South Asian security which is equally essential for American and other major powers’ global interests.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com