Xeric
RETIRED THINK TANK
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'It is the beginning of Pakistan's collapse': Rediff.com News
So, just what is happening in Pakistan?
'You kick *** and come away'
Instead of targeting the terrorists, they end up killing the civilians
'They have achieved displacement, not destruction'
Pakistan had no option but to stage-manage a victory
Last updated on: December 8, 2009 00:29 IST
Krishnakumar P probes the Pakistan army's tall claims of victories against the Taliban in the tribal areas of Swat and South Waziristan, and finds that the powerful army might be stage-managing its offensives
While armies the world over struggle for years to put down insurgencies, the Pakistan army has claimed to have defeated the Taliban in less than 20 days.
In contrast, the Iraq war has been going on for seven years now with no end in sight. Ditto, the Afghan war. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam thumbed its nose at Sri Lankan army for over two decades.
Closer home, whatever peace we have seen in the Kashmir valley in the past two decades has been shaky and temporary at best. Similar is the case of the northeast.
But this is not the case with Pakistan. Sample these headlines from recent months: 'Pak army claims Swat, Buner cleared of Taliban terrorists', 'Swat operations almost over: Pakistan army'.
So, just what is happening in Pakistan? Is the army exaggerating its claim? Are these battles taking place at all? Or is there more to it than meets the eye?
Before looking for answers for these questions: first, the details:
In what is termed as the first phase, in the 20 days since the launch of the operation on the night of October 16, the military has captured all the major towns and villages in the region. It is now poised to march into Mehsud tribe's regional headquarters of Laddah in South Waziristan.
In the second phase, the army will concentrate on consolidation and clearance to penetrate into the region and bring back the political administration.
The third phase will involve the handing over the region to the Mehsud tribe that has been evacuated for the sake of the military operation. Everyone can then go back home and everything will be fine.
This is the picture the Pakistan army is painting. But Indian intelligence agencies and military experts, who have been watching the developments closely, say the operation is a lot more complex than it seems to be and in the end, might even result in a direct threat to India.
------
in the end, might even result in a direct threat to India.
Yep, that says it all.
So, just what is happening in Pakistan?
'You kick *** and come away'
Instead of targeting the terrorists, they end up killing the civilians
'They have achieved displacement, not destruction'
Pakistan had no option but to stage-manage a victory
Last updated on: December 8, 2009 00:29 IST
Krishnakumar P probes the Pakistan army's tall claims of victories against the Taliban in the tribal areas of Swat and South Waziristan, and finds that the powerful army might be stage-managing its offensives
While armies the world over struggle for years to put down insurgencies, the Pakistan army has claimed to have defeated the Taliban in less than 20 days.
In contrast, the Iraq war has been going on for seven years now with no end in sight. Ditto, the Afghan war. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam thumbed its nose at Sri Lankan army for over two decades.
Closer home, whatever peace we have seen in the Kashmir valley in the past two decades has been shaky and temporary at best. Similar is the case of the northeast.
But this is not the case with Pakistan. Sample these headlines from recent months: 'Pak army claims Swat, Buner cleared of Taliban terrorists', 'Swat operations almost over: Pakistan army'.
So, just what is happening in Pakistan? Is the army exaggerating its claim? Are these battles taking place at all? Or is there more to it than meets the eye?
Before looking for answers for these questions: first, the details:
In what is termed as the first phase, in the 20 days since the launch of the operation on the night of October 16, the military has captured all the major towns and villages in the region. It is now poised to march into Mehsud tribe's regional headquarters of Laddah in South Waziristan.
In the second phase, the army will concentrate on consolidation and clearance to penetrate into the region and bring back the political administration.
The third phase will involve the handing over the region to the Mehsud tribe that has been evacuated for the sake of the military operation. Everyone can then go back home and everything will be fine.
This is the picture the Pakistan army is painting. But Indian intelligence agencies and military experts, who have been watching the developments closely, say the operation is a lot more complex than it seems to be and in the end, might even result in a direct threat to India.
------
in the end, might even result in a direct threat to India.
Yep, that says it all.
