Dynamics of a N Waziristan operation

the irony with Pakistani so called intellectual elite is that it is very easily convinced by any thing comming out westren especially american press.
some so called intellectuals like to critise Pakistan with pleasure without knowing facts and banking on westren press. same is with Pakistani media who likes to protect US intrests more than their own National intrests.
What ever NYT or Washtington Post says is gospel to us. As for NWA, have any one wondered that at present more then 8 divisons of PA are involve in counter Terrorism operations in FATA. 8 divisons mean that amount of force involve in CT Operation in FATA is more than force which fought in 1965 war with india .
the advocates of US intrests fail to understand that at present without clearing Aurakzai, Kurram, Mohmand etc and bringing long term peace it will be a stupidity to go to NWA.
I dont understand why these so called Intellectuals want people to suffere more for the intrests of US.
I agree we have to clear NWA but its not the time.Recommend

*I agree strongly with Khalid Munir, not only that he is my course mate but also for the fact that he is one of the few sane analysts left in Pakistan. We have done more then the entire world in fighting terrorism whether monetarily or with life or property. Sir we did not have so many army casualties during 65 war with India, as we have had up till now fighting terrorism. Ask the plight of all the young widows and young children of the martyred soldiers. Ask us who’s near and dear ones are serving in N Waziristan and Orakzai or FATA, how we feel…and then we are coerced by the Americans to do more because a punk drawing room wannabe terrorist tries to blow a truck in Times Square. Have the Americans ever thought of seeing what is wrong with their society? Why the immigrants who lands in USA with dreams in their eyes turn their backs on the glitzy society. Please accept some responsibility for successfully converting a modern man into a Jihadist.
Remember I am a proud soldier and detest Talibans but lets say enough is enough, we have to survive after the NATO forces leave Afghanistan… as usual leaving us in a lurch. let the Chief play his cards and we hope he shall with the future generations fate in his mind. Thank you Khalid for raising a sane voice. *Recommend

Obviously the army wont eliminate all those groups. Who can even think of having such cheap disposable strategic assets in the 21st century. While generals were busy playing golf, these kids of poor families were being indoctrinated and ruthlessly exploited in kashmir and afghanistan. Is there any army in the world which recruits civilians to fight proxy wars. The army which couldnt cross Rohi Nala during 1965 war wants strategic depth in afghanistan! Such foolish ideas of strategic depth can only come from an army which celebrates defence day for a war that it actually lost.Recommend

Very thorough analysis on the issue. This point can not be stressed enough that operation in North Waziristan calls for a very well thought out and carefully evaluated decision. An extremely grave responsibility lies with the Govt of Pakistan and the Army chief regarding taking this call. Pakistan cannot endure any more devastation than already faced by the nation due to the hasty decisions of previous regimes. It is high time that the authorities give precedence to this country than to the undue demands of America.Recommend

Dear Sir, Army should go ahead and kill and clear the area of NWA and entire FATA and other infested areas. They should follow the line and command of NATO and US forces as it is in the country’s best interest.

Isnt it an irony that the Army kept the Indians bogged down in Indian insurgency for so long just relaizing that “What goes around comes around” and how expensive it can be. How come our brave troops cant keep up with rag-tag, their own trained terrorits despite the constant flow of dollars and military equipment to fight this global menace. It is first battle rather for our modern day army to prove to the world its mattle.

Bravos jawans, the time has come as the nation has fed the Army for so long for the real fight around the corner. Dont chicken out this time please and just do it.Recommend

So while we plan and stratgize Pakistani civilians are left to the mercy of the local Taliban in North Waziristan, having the law of the land trampled day in and day out! Deprived of education, access to justice, facing beheading’s and amputations our security forces should not go in to defend them? If a Defence Housing Authority of Cantonment was taken over by the Taliban no one would hold back our security forces then? Just goes to show how worthless a life of a Pakistani citizen is. Either you will get blown up in a terrorist attack, or your own military, paid for by your own taxes, will sit and stratgize as your life is made into a living hell.Recommend

Khalid Munir thank you very much for sharing your writing with us , we need writers like you who can write real facts and read between the lines you are one of the few sane analysts, I agree with khalid that Pakistan must act within military constraints and for its national interest, we have done enough and getting nothing but being told by the Americans to do more.
I am thankful to the editor and teal of daily tribune for introducing new writers like Khalid munir ,Recommend

Good oneRecommend

Dear Khalid munir ,I am inspired by your writing. And I hope you will continue writing on hot issues leo.khan72Recommend

Well said Khalid. It is high time that we tell Americans that enough is enough and let us sort our problems ourselves. We have better options to deal with Talibans whether good or bad based on our customs and traditions. Somebody has rightly said that, “Let’s not prostitute for dollars” and stand on our own feet.Recommend

This was a good attempt & sound analysis by col. Khalid Munir. I totally agree with him. Now its time that America should leave Afghanistan.Recommend

I couldn’t agree with you more Khalib Sb.Recommend

Taliban is by product of false, militant, and uneducated Pakistani Mullahs who are supported by Pakistani State, ISI and Army for past 30 years. The world has realized that Pakistan is the epicentre of today’s world wide terror activities. All Islamic Terrorist are directly or indirectly connected to Pakistan Society. If Pakistan is claiming to be a sovereign state, then it needs to stop facilitating, supporting and exporting terrorists. Otherwise NATO or any other force has the right to defend themselves in any corner of the world. Pakistan cannot avoid its responsibility.Recommend

actually brothers the real fact is we dont know the real fact and figures so in my council its totally wasteg of time and to get hipper so i cant give any type of comment on these type of statment so plz dont mind………Recommend

If not an operation, then constant air attacks on militant savages in North Waziristan is required.Recommend

Well written and i compeletly agree with the writerRecommend

While we sit in our comfortable gardens, sipping whichever flavor of herbal tea’s in fashion, deciding if the Taliban are good or evil and if the Americans have raised a righteous war for the preservation of the entire humanity (at which, FYI, they don’t really give a crap, even if we do have an elected government, and a whole lot of good that brought us), we should realize that spoken words alone have never won wars, raised houses, made lives, or healed wounds. What needs to be done, must be done. These self- indulgent, self- imposed moralistic judgmental calls should be dealt with as per their credibility, efficiently and tidily, and honestly, let the voices from that area be heard for what they’re worth. After all, aren’t they the one suffering the most?
Taliban or no Taliban, any witness to this epoch should remember the results achieved, and not the bitterness of spoken words alone.Recommend

a correct analysis indeed. though unfortunately for Pakistani’s US will be able to push Pakistan into NWA through

1)political disorder
2)Faisal Shehzad
3)Pakistani Man arrested in Chile
4)Freedom of Speech violation
5)Damage of minority rights
6)India always waiting in wings to cash any opportunity

or if nothing succeed US will issue threats get ready to go back to stone age just like Negropante did in 2001 which is mentioned in former President Musharraf book.

Such an ally Pakistan is of America…Recommend

Khalid Munir’s analysis is based on pure facts and realty. Fortunately, Pakistan still has so many brains like Khalid but it’s a pity that their voice is not heard by decision makers in power. It’s a curse that Pakistan is under the control of incompetent, inefficient, irresponsiblle, under-educated, dishonest, selfish and corrupt rulers without any vision who accidently grabbed the Power. Opposition is also very friendly for their own good. Army Chief General Kiyani has sincere ambitions and he is struggling his level best to stay on the right path without involving Armed Forces into politics but his options are very limited. At times, he seems helpless and makes decisions against his will under pressure of so called foreign allies and ignorant “democratic” rulers.

Pakistan’s media, electronic and print, is playing an important role to help keep the record straight and educate the public with the vision of so many talented and brilliant anchors and writers. I wonder if its feasible to pick some brains like Khalid as consultants by the Army Chief to assist him in making more patriotic decisions to protect Pakistan and Pakistanis. It’s easy to label past Mujahidins as Insurgents and Terrorists but nobody takes the trouble to go in the bottom to find out the cause of this tragic situation. Under Musharraf’s illegal and immoral rule, General Kiyani’s hands were tied due to strict army discipline. I firmly believe that if General Kiyani was COAS at that time, Lal Masjid massacre and Nawab Bugti’s murder could easily be avoided. As General Kiyani is Incharge now, I am confident that he could avoid new adventures like one proposed in North Waziristan in order to save thousands of Pakistanis from Death & Destruction. Force is not the only soultion of this problem. Who is to blame to make some of these loyal Pakistanis so Crazy whose only option is now to kill and to die? How many “Terrorists” were created as a result of massacre of mostly innocent children in Lal Masjid? Of course some fanatics or religious extremists were also killed in the operation. How many Insuregents or Terrorists were there in Pakistan on January 01, 2002. I guess “None”. Bucher Bush and Murderer Musharraf are to blame. Bush did it as a co-consipirator of Jews and Mush did it to get Dollars and earn legtimacy as he was not recognized as a legitimate ruler of Pakistan. As I recall, President Clinton had refused to shake his hand with Mush during his brief visit to Pakistan. President Obama has a will and vision to clear all this mess but I wonder that all his team mates have the same ambitions. In my honest opinion, some patriotic Pakistani leaders from ruling class should convince President Obama to reconsider his policies of miliatry action in Pakistan as it could not bring any fruitful results so far. It has created more mess, destruction, confusion and rise in terrorism. President Obama is a very considertae, reasonable and a good listner. I am sure his actions or lack of actions could bring Pakistan out of this self created Hell. Allah Bless Pakisan and save the innocent, poor and helpless Pakistanis from any further torture and hardship. Aameen.Recommend

A very well written piece by Khalid Munir.
I saw some odd comments though. People saying we should attack now and that the masses want it and since the army is subordinate to the democracy the army should kill all Taliban.. nonsense really.
I know for a fact that Pakistan army is indeed one of the strongest and most disciplined armies amongst the world second tier armies. And if its in the second tier its only because of technology and a limited budget. I agree that the state policy has to be dictated by the democratic government, but let us not talk about masses dictating how a war should be waged. I remember reading about Bismarck and the one thing that makes him an outstanding statesman is he never did what the masses said, for example after the franco-prussian war of, was it 1871, against popular demand – he left France to the French, moved his armies out of French Territories and drew a favourable treaty. We must understand that democracy is to elect a leader and the leader must do what he knows is best. The leader cannot follow the call of the masses through media.. that would be fatal.
If the army presently feels that it has to rest and recuperate, or perhaps as Khalid Munir says it is overstretched, then it simply cannot be pushed into an operation it is not ready for. El Edroos says that everyday people are beheaded and attrocities commited and the security forces are just sitting. Well, Mr El Edroos, I have followed most of your comments and I feel you have this inner anger against your nations army, that is if you are a Pakistani (name sounds trans-jordanian). Look, I know you are angry about the defence housing and things like that, but this topic has nothing to do with that. I spent 12 years in the military and then (feeling i’d done my pennance) left without a housing scheme account or even a pension. I’ve seen the army inside out and I assure you its the most disciplined outfit in the country. Yes, there may be a bit this and that in the senior heirarchy, but compared to the civil beaurocracy its negligent.
I also saw a comment by someone saying we celebrate defence day for a war we lost. In 1965 we launched an operation to liberate the occupied state of Kashmire and this operation then escalated into a war. But we defended our borders from a major Indian ingress and if at all there was an ingress we had a corresponding advance thus ending the war at a neutral footing. Compare the giant India with Pakistan and I’d say we did rather well. We didn’t acquire the aim of the operation so one may say we lost the war. But we defended well and I don’t see any harm in celebrating that.
Think objectively everyone. Leave the work to the army, in good time they will clear this mess up.Recommend