US Drone Strikes In Pakistan

[fatman17]

So now both Mullah Nazir and Haji Gul Bahdur have threatened retaliatory strikes in Pakistan over the drone attacks.

was it einstein or newton who said "for every action, there is equal and opposite reaction".

we dont expect them to take this sitting down - this is all-out war!

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

So now both Mullah Nazir and Haji Gul Bahdur have threatened retaliatory strikes in Pakistan over the drone attacks.

was it einstein or newton who said "for every action, there is equal and opposite reaction".

we dont expect them to take this sitting down - this is all-out war!

Indeed it is to be expected FM sahib, however my concern is that we are expanding into Mohmand agency with the Ops. and the situation in the East is still not very good, with India's water blockage and procrastination on resolving the issue.

Also realize that it is Mullah Nazir and Gul Bahadur who have kept B Mehsud quiet. If they shift strategies, this will involve all three leaders acting against Pakistan, and both N waziristan and S Waziristan will be used to direct attacks against Pakistan.

I do not doubt that were the PA to allocate more resources the situation could be controlled, but can we afford to allocate resources from the East?

Secondly, the army aviation support remains limited - we do not have the required airlift capacity nor enough Cobra's, especially given the maintenance bottlenecks, to effectively support ground operations across at least four agencies plus Swat.

 

[Pk_Thunder]

Kayani urges NATO to win support of tribesmen​

BRUSSELS: NATO should engage Pashtuns living in the areas along the Pak-Afghan border rather than simply try to seal the border to stop Taliban crossing over, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani said on Wednesday, AFP reported. According to a private TV channel, Kayani urged the NATO Defence Committee in Brussels to halt the use of spy planes inside Pakistani territory. Kayani also vowed to keep the supply line to NATO open. “We will do whatever is possible, whatever is within our power to ensure that this line of supply is open,” Kayani said, according to Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, head of NATO’s military committee. afp/daily times monitor

 

[muse]

Implausible deniability
Ejaz Haider


Another drone strike, this time near Janikhel in Bannu district, has taken out one Abdullah Azam Al-Saudi, a suspected Al Qaeda leader said to be the main link between Al Qaeda high command and local Taliban commanders.

Northeast, in capital Islamabad, the government continues to rant against these drone strikes, calling them attacks on Pakistan’s sovereignty and denying reports it has an agreement with the United States for the latter to carry out these strikes.

What is going on?

Last year, at an in-camera briefing where this writer was present, a senior army officer had informed our group about heightened Al Qaeda-Taliban activity in the Janikhel area. When I asked the general why no action was being taken even as intelligence reports were pouring in about a simmering Janikhel, he said the forces were spread thin and it would be useless to go in without packing the punch. He was right.

One of the tactics, an obvious one, used by the insurgents is to emerge at points C and D and strike while the forces are grappling with them at points A and B. Over the years, groups have metastasised and while some operations are coordinated, there is a high degree of flexibility at the local level.

Also, insurgent strikes can employ a wide variety and combinations of tactical operations within and outside the area. This is possible because of the protean nature of these groups, ideological penetration among sections of society and, no less importantly, a burgeoning insurgency-related economy.

What this adds up to is both simple and complex. Simple in so far as the security forces are required to constantly calibrate operations both at the tactical/operational and strategic levels. Complex in so far as doing this — acquiring this kind of flexibility and staying ahead of the insurgents — is far from easy.

Broadly speaking, however, successful counter-insurgency would require operations at two levels: fighting against and mopping up insurgents’ strongholds on the ground and taking out their leadership through strikes, mostly clandestine. To be effective, both sets of operations need effective intelligence, but taking out the leadership even more so. Since ground operations against leadership that is constantly on the move, is scattered or is well-protected can be costly, missile strikes is a better option.

Regarding cleaning up insurgents’ strongholds, I had argued in this space that: “ — intelligence work in such situations is not simply about embedding assets and providing information on possible targets and their activities. It also means turning the insurgents around and using various means to create resistance to the insurgents from within the population. Even smaller, highly trained groups of security personnel will always be visible and identifiable. They can be used for raids and extraction operations but any effective effort must incrementally begin to diminish reliance on security forces and prop up challenges to insurgents from within the populations that sustain them” (“Eroding insurgency from the inside”; Daily Times, June 28, 2008).

One of the reasons the current push in Bajaur and elsewhere has proved more effective is the attempt by the government to get local support, i.e., tribal lashkars to help the army cleanse the area. This is the only effective way of countering the threat, though it will have its own twists and turns and no one should hope for a quick turnaround.

The second strand of the strategy was more difficult. How does one take out the leadership and/or key people, those who coordinate strikes, recruit, fund, and generally steer the direction of the insurgency?

Effective intelligence, as noted, is an absolute must. But equally important is the capability to take out the target(s) once intelligence has established their presence in an area. This is where drone strikes come in.

The recent strikes have been largely successful. There are also reports, despite denials by Pakistan, that there is some agreement on this score. It should be obvious that without humint (human intelligence) such strikes cannot be successful. And if they are, then that means the obvious: there has been effective penetration at various levels of Taliban-Al Qaeda leadership.

Reports also suggest the Al Qaeda leadership is alive to this — and worried. Most drone strikes have taken out foreigners and their local supporters. This should make Pakistan happy because anyone who is familiar with the goings-on in the area knows that the local maliks and other elders now leading the lashkars are more worried about foreign elements than the local Taliban tribesmen.

Neither is it a coincidence that these drone strikes have not really got anyone up in arms or else the strategy to employ the lashkars would have failed by now. Without going into the details, let it be said that there is no real disconnect between these drone strikes and what is happening on the ground in terms of the military push.

The recent strike has taken out its target in the settled area. The Janikhel area, as mentioned earlier, has been simmering for long. Moreover, strikes closer to the Durand Line may have forced some Al Qaeda leaders to take refuge deeper into NWFP to lose themselves.

The question then is: Why is the government fulminating against these strikes? Politics can be the only reason. But as I have written before, this policy of denial violates a basic tenet of deniability — plausibility. Either the government should have been more forthcoming in accepting that there is coordination because that is the only way to address the Al Qaeda threat or, which it is now belatedly doing, lobbied for acquiring UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle) capability.

As things stand, its denials make it look both weak (vis-à-vis the US) and ludicrous (since no one believes them).

In which case, even while doing something right, it comes across as stupid and insincere. Some rethink, perhaps?

Ejaz Haider is Consulting Editor of The Friday Times and Op-Ed Editor of Daily Times. He can be reached at sapper@dailytimes.com.pk


Write to Ejaz, let him know that you appreciate his clear thinking.

 

[fatman17]

As things stand, its denials make it look both weak (vis-à-vis the US) and ludicrous (since no one believes them).

apparantly the pak govt. has accepted this posture as the reports suggest "pak will rant and rave, and the US will make no comments" and feel comfortable doing it.

 

[S-2]

"'...pak will rant and rave, and the US will make no comments"' and feel comfortable doing it..."

A case of life imitating def.pk.

 

[S-2]

"Write to Ejaz, let him know that you appreciate his clear thinking."

His thinking IS clear. We'll see if it makes any difference where it matters most-in Pakistan. I'll write him, sir, and express my appreciation. Thanks.

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan army practises shooting drone aircraft

Reuters Published: November 21, 2008

By Zeeshan Haider

Pakistani soldiers practised shooting at pilotless "drone" aircraft on Friday, the military said a day after the government lodged a protest with the U.S. ambassador over drone missile strikes in Pakistani territory.

Anti-aircraft guns and short-range surface-to-air missiles were used during the exercise conducted at a desert range near the city of Muzaffargarh in the central Pubjab province.

"The elements of Army Air Defence demonstrated their shooting skills by targeting the drones flying at different altitudes," the military said in a statement.

Air defence commander Lieutenant-General Ashraf Saleem praised the "precision and agility" of the gunners.

Pakistan is bristling over a series of missile strikes by U.S. drones targeting al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the lawless tribal regions along the Afghan border in recent weeks.

The U.S. forces have carried out more than 20 such drone attacks in the last three months, reflecting U.S. impatience over militants from Pakistan fuelling the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and fears that al Qaeda fighters in northwest Pakistan could plan attacks in the West.

A U.S. commando raid on September 3 led to a diplomatic storm, and there has not been any subsequent incursion by ground troops.

But the controversy over the drones flared again after the latest missile strike on Wednesday hit a target in Bannu district in North West Frontier Province, deeper inside Pakistani territory and south of the semi-autonomous Waziristan tribal region that has borne the brunt of the attacks.

Protesting the strike in Bannu during a session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani voiced hope that the incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Barack Obama would exercise more restraint.

Pakistan says the attacks violate its sovereignty, undermine efforts to win public support for the fight against militancy, and make it harder to justify the U.S. alliance.

(Reporting by Zeeshan Haider; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Paul Tait)

 

[dr.umer]

I am quite confident that this shooting of drones is a part of regular exercise being conducted by Army Air Defence. AAD also conducts similar exercises at Sumyani, Balochistan.

 

[Pk_Thunder]

I am quite confident that this shooting of drones is a part of regular exercise being conducted by Army Air Defence. AAD also conducts similar exercises at Sumyani, Balochistan.

Well sir i would differ!!....We all know that the US is continuously carrying out Drone attacks inside Pakistan...they have turned a deaf ear to Pakistani leadership...They don't bother how the people and govt of Pakistan feel about these drone attacks.I think the exercise of shooting Drones by PAK army is a signal to them.

 

[Pk_Thunder]

Pakistan to evolve aggressive diplomatic initiative to counter US strikes ​

ISLAMABAD, Nov 21 (APP): The government on Friday launched an aggressive diplomatic initiative to counter the US missile strikes inside its territory, an official source said. Under the plan Pakistan will contact the European Union, China, Arab countries and other key countries, that have a say in international affairs, and seek their influence in putting an end to the US missile attacks.

Pakistan has already conveyed the same message to NATO through diplomatic channels, as the drone strikes were not helping the ongoing military operations against militants in the tribal belt.

The new initiative is aimed at taking into confidence all friendly countries and to build up pressure on the United States to stop such attacks.

The high level government source said, the government in the recent past has conveyed to the US administration, the state department and the pentagon, that such unilateral strikes were creating a negative impact in achieving the desired objectives.

Such missile attacks in the tribal areas were leading to greater support to the militants from the locals, the source said.

Pakistan has clearly stated that any incursion into its territory by the International Security Assistance Force was a violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The source said Pakistan was also waiting for the Obama administration in the United States to step in so that the policy of unilateral strikes by the Bush administration ends.

 

[fatman17]

I am quite confident that this shooting of drones is a part of regular exercise being conducted by Army Air Defence. AAD also conducts similar exercises at Sumyani, Balochistan.

yes and no!. i guess there can be a message in the timing of the excercise!

 

[Always Neutral]

Well sir i would differ!!....We all know that the US is continuously carrying out Drone attacks inside Pakistan...they have turned a deaf ear to Pakistani leadership...They don't bother how the people and govt of Pakistan feel about these drone attacks.I think the exercise of shooting Drones by PAK army is a signal to them.

I dont think the US cares. This is more for public consumption.

Regards

 

[Pk_Thunder]

I dont think the US cares. This is more for public consumption.

Regards

Time will tell...lets wait and see

Regards

 

[Always Neutral]

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

Zardari seeks drone technology from US

* President hopes new US admin will understand Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts

WASHINGTON: In an interview with the Washington Post on Sunday, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his disapproval of the United States drone attacks on Pakistani areas along the Afghan border and urged Washington to provide the predator technology to Pakistan instead to enhance its ability to fight terrorism.

Hope: The president also voiced hope that the incoming Barack Obama administration would recognise Pakistan’s key anti-terror role as well as understand the fact that his country has been a victim of terrorism as well.

“We think we need a new dialogue, and we’re hoping that the new US government will understand that Pakistan has done more than they recognise” and was a victim of the same insurgency the US was fighting, he said. app

NEXT HE WILL ASK FOR F-22 / F-35 TECH OR SARAH PALIN. LOVE THIS GUYS OPTIMISM.

REGARDS