Opinion

Pakistan’s day of infamy

"Afghanistan is a means to accomplish our top mission, which is to kill al Qaeda and secure Pakistan’s nukes."

Zahir Kazmi May 26, 2011

We can pray that Bob Woodward made up the facts in his Pulitzer Prize-winning Obama’s Wars. He quoted Joe Biden’s conversation with Obama and other senior administration officials, “We can’t lose sight of Pakistan and stability there. The way I understand this, Afghanistan is a means to accomplish our top mission, which is to kill al Qaeda and secure Pakistan’s nukes. We must be making progress separately against al Qaeda and separately in Pakistan...” (Woodward: 328, Chapter 28).

Likewise, Mel Gibson’s 2010 film, The Edge of Darkness, may look Kafkaesque but carries grave implications. The US can make a dirty bomb by using traces from another country’s nuclear material, explode it on its own soil, give false proof in justification and then punish the target country. Or the US can transfer such a dirty bomb to the target country, non-state actors (NSAs) explode it, the state is declared unstable and the US ‘helps’ that country by securing its nuclear arsenal under a UNSC mandate. Can these scenarios be applied to Pakistan? The American leadership has repeatedly denied having any intention to secure Pakistan’s nukes. Yet, after the PNS Mehran attack, Pakistan is probably being driven to the edge of darkness.

On May 23^rd, security forces ended a 17-hour standoff with NSAs at the naval base Mehran. The attack showed that the NSAs, have not only augmented their abilities, but have also enhanced these to the point that they can now operate far beyond Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata. Who benefits from these attacks?

The May 22^nd attack highlights the fact that NSAs have managed to permeate the security apparatus in a continuous war against the army and the ISI. Hence, the NSA’s have access to numerous targets in the military-intelligence complex. These NSAs cannot operate so effectively without external support.

Why would the CIA support NSAs? On the one hand, the US government expresses comfort with the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear programme and on the other, it points out that a weakening government and increased militancy makes them vulnerable.

Let’s take Woodward’s book and reputation seriously. If America’s aim is to secure Pakistan’s nukes, then the best approach is to create an environment in which Pakistan can be declared an unstable nuclear-armed state. The next logical step would be a UNSC resolution offering help to the people of Pakistan in securing their crown jewels.

The ISI has serious intelligence limitations against the NSAs. The latter have different requirements for survival. These ghosts are a hidden force, fighting a conspicuous one. The ISI’s cumbersome structure and bureaucratic mechanisms act slowly on information while the intelligence needs of the NSAs are more restricted. Hence, the ISI can only hope to succeed if it can penetrate the NSAs.

The army has engaged in generally, successful counter-insurgency operations in Swat, South Waziristan and other parts of the tribal belt. Yet, the NSAs continue to demonstrate the capability to attack hard and soft targets across the country. The military operations in 2009 and the killing of several NSA leaders did slow them down and the temporary calm before the recent storm was probably because the NSAs were flushed out of South Waziristan. Or the CIA-sponsored NSAs are increasing the momentum to accomplish their ultimate aim.

Why the focus on the navy? The raid on Abbottabad exposed the surveillance capability against the Isaf in Afghanistan but the Navy’s P-3C Orion aircraft have a credible capability against navies operating in the entire Indian Ocean. Extra-regional forces would find it difficult to operate in the Indian Ocean and secure Pakistan’s nukes so long as surveillance capability exists. What can Pakistan do? With all eyes on the safety and security of Pakistan’s nukes, the security apparatus must be entirely focused on defending the nukes. If Pakistan has evidence of Indian or US involvement, it must be exposed now. Pakistan must further reduce US presence in the country and the Shamsi base must come under its control. Remaining naval assets like submarines should be dispersed immediately, to avoid further damage. Lastly, Pakistan must find its spine, take a strong stand and ensure that it has the last laugh.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (61)

Yasir | 12 years ago | Reply @Observer... Let us look at the NSAs and their possible supporters, Observer: A. Taliban Haqqani+Quetta Shura- We are living in a world which believes on the system of Michaville… Since it is the basic essence of US Strategies and World politics.. US is here for what at least USSR was not in Afghanistan, now if US is facing the Music, so this is their way of handling the international issues. Observer:B. TTP- Gen Gul of ISI is on record supporting them as ‘true mujahids and patriots’. May be Gen Gul was talking in his ‘personal’ capacity, may be not.Further a Qari sahib arrested in connection with Mehran attack was earlier arrested as a suspect in a bomb blast and then released under ‘mysterious circumstances’. This does indicate support in domestic law enforcement establishment. Let me remind you that we are living in a society, which has been heavily addicted with a philosophy which was once a need of US, not only this incident but we lost a lot of our leadership by the same people who still believes on that ideology. Who knows when they were previously used can’t used them today for another purpose. Observer :C. LeT+JeM- As they are known to have attacked Indian Parliament, Red Fort and Mumbai, so the support must come from non-Indian sources. Yes the support is from such a non-Indian source which believes that if these two nations agreed on resolving their issues peacefully their business of selling arms to these two nations is going to be affected. Not only is this but it is possible that India can be a new China for “someone” in the region. Observer :D. SSP+LeJ- None of their members, including a self confessed executor of ‘more than 100 people’, have been successfully prosecuted. May be they derive support from the prosecuting agencies. Today where the country is already on the verge of division on different fault lines, a single uncarefully taken incident can be just adding fuel to the fire. We must see facts and we should also analyze that we have these institutions running in a typical way from the last 60years now why is there an intense call for a “change” not only through popular media-private channels, but also this is considered Justice will be done to the society by some other institutions if change has been brought..

Yasir | 12 years ago | Reply @Observer Observer: A. Taliban Haqqani+Quetta Shura- We are living in a world which believes on the system of Michaville… Since it is the basic essence of US Strategies and World politics.. US is here for what at least USSR was not in Afghanistan, now if US is facing the Music, so this is their way of handling the international issues. Observer:B. TTP- Gen Gul of ISI is on record supporting them as ‘true mujahids and patriots’. May be Gen Gul was talking in his ‘personal’ capacity, may be not.Further a Qari sahib arrested in connection with Mehran attack was earlier arrested as a suspect in a bomb blast and then released under ‘mysterious circumstances’. This does indicate support in domestic law enforcement establishment. Let me remind you that we are living in a society, which has been heavily addicted with a philosophy which was once a need of US, not only this incident but we lost a lot of our leadership by the same people who still believes on that ideology. Who knows when they were previously used can’t used them today for another purpose. Observer :C. LeT+JeM- As they are known to have attacked Indian Parliament, Red Fort and Mumbai, so the support must come from non-Indian sources. Yes the support is from such a non-Indian source which believes that if these two nations agreed on resolving their issues peacefully their business of selling arms to these two nations is going to be affected. Not only is this but it is possible that India can be a new China for “someone” in the region. Observer :D. SSP+LeJ- None of their members, including a self confessed executor of ‘more than 100 people’, have been successfully prosecuted. May be they derive support from the prosecuting agencies. Today where the country is already on the verge of division on different fault lines, a single uncarefully taken incident can be just adding fuel to the fire. We must see facts and we should also analyze that we have these institutions running in a typical way from the last 60years now why is there an intense call for a “change” not only through popular media-private channels, but also this is considered Justice will be done to the society by some other institutions if change has been brought..

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

ali | 12 years ago | Reply the writer might have been sounded a bit over reactive but the thinking is not wrong, the raymond davis affair , the activities of black water and Dyncorp, they cant be ignored, some of the ppl here brand anti- Americanism as a sin or extremism coz they US funds alot of civil society to keep them on Liberal track. why do we forget the Iraq episode where are the WMDs, who proliferated nukes to Israel, what happened in somalia, Gulf etc etc,,,,is it so simple, indian friends should revisit the principals of Jawharlal Nehru about foreign policy and also the audience should study about operation Cherry by CIA, Counter threat reduction program the nun lugger act,.

bettani | 12 years ago | Reply the writer may have sounded a bit overreactive but their is certain connection of US and the Nonstate actors in Pakistan. the Raymon Davis affair indeed points to the fact that something undergroung is going on, the presenxce of black water and Dyncorp signifies something, the US have most heaviest counsellor presence in the country, they have the legeslation of counter threat reduction program nunn lugar act,,, they have demanded a counselate in Quetta, while doing OBL they say the gathered intelligence when they were helping in floods across the country, how many WMDs they have recovered from Iraq, can any body give me a number,, why OBL was given safe passage in Tora Bora operation, how did Isreal got nuclear weapons, above all who gave stinger missiles to the then afghan mujahedin now taliban, who was charlie wilson,,,, accepting the fact that Pakistani strategic thinkings may have fallrn short but the point here is that what are those very vital interests which the US is pursuing in the region spending millions and billions of dollars, just for war on terror, i am not ready to buy this argument. i might not buy the argument of zahir kazmi but the thinking is rational and needs to be understood. a few comments above shows that they have been less critical of the argument but more critical of the theme of article which in anti american. the liberals turn fascist if the argument is against their own personal thinking,,,or they are working in US Aid program or US/ UN funded project. my indian friends should revist the ideals of Great Jawahar Lal Nehru his vision abt the foreign policy. the CIA lovers should also read about the famous operation Cherry and the they should read the military review journal of US which published Gen David Patreaus lessons learned from war in Iraq.....

Reflection | 12 years ago | Reply Its very strange to observe through detachment from the events. What must be realized is that why are all the people talking only? the answer is what can we do then? the question then is then why are you talking then? the reply comes at least we are doing our part. The more strange thing is this that with every new event they are doing the same. writing articles, giving comments and again writing articles. Please bear me when i say that all of you are hypocrites and that's why you will see more of it in the time to come. Then n only then the strength to take actions on individual level will result in a strong and united leadership. Its in the making, im hopeful but alas! most of you are not part of it.

observer | 12 years ago | Reply No matter 'Who Benefits' in the NDU's books. This is what the Pakistan Navy has to say, Six days after the deadly PNS Mehran gun and bomb attack, investigators have made headway by determining the group behind the attack as a result of which the security agencies are cracking down on suspects throughout the country. Forensic reports about the nature of explosives and weapons have been submitted to the investigation committee headed by Rear Admiral Tehseenullah Khan. A senior navy official said it was true that al Qaeda’s Ilyas Kashmiri group was involved in the attacks. Security agencies have arrested a number of people throughout the country, including some in Karachi and Faisalabad from this international terrorist organisation. http://tribune.com.pk/story/177984/pakistan-navy-braces-for-a-wave-of-attacks/

observer | 12 years ago | Reply @Yasir In all the above discussion the situation can be analyzed very well that all this goes against whom’s interest’s and who is supporting the NSA in Pakistan? As to the question, 'who is supporting the NSA in Pakistan? Let us look at the NSAs and their possible supporters, A. Taliban Haqqani+Quetta Shura- No idea may be NDU has some ideas. B. TTP- Gen Gul of ISI is on record supporting them as 'true mujahids and patriots'. May be Gen Gul was talking in his 'personal' capacity, may be not.Further a Qari sahib arrested in connection with Mehran attack was earlier arrested as a suspect in a bomb blast and then released under 'mysterious circumstances'. This does indicate support in domestic law enforcement establishment. C. LeT+JeM- As they are known to have attacked Indian Parliament, Red Fort and Mumbai, so the support must come from non-Indian sources. D. SSP+LeJ- None of their members, including a self confessed executor of 'more than 100 people', have been successfully prosecuted. May be they derive support from the prosecuting agencies. I am open to a 'factual' look at the question of support. Can we try facts instead of general conspiracies for a change.

Yasir | 12 years ago | Reply The article must me analyzed in the current regional and geopolitical environment. Of course i agreed with MK "Last point – why are the Indians perturbed on this article? The author’s comments are not directed against them.”. So from here one point is clear that the writer does not follow the traditional India centric path. This shows a clear sign of the not only the writer’s own awareness of the regional geopolitical strategic environment but also shows the institutional thinking from where he learned. Today, since US wants an end to this war in Afghanistan and to make it finally legitimate that the tax payer’s money of US citizens has been used on the objective of targeting Osama. One can easily understand the situation and analyze the situation very well. Pakistan is not the sole responsible for this mess in the world as the US media is propagating against Pakistan since 9/11, but it was the US objectives at that time to balance what USSR has done with them in the Vietnam. Since then both worked in collaboration for their own interests and the US had not finished the game in 1989, but they took some time in deciding how to play in future, when there will be a resurgent Russia, an emerging China and a threatening Iran. Things were going well since they believed that they have a strong proven “ally” in the region. But unfortunately (for US) the ally decides to go on its own ways keeping its own interests higher than others as it did in the past 60 years. The example is the US demand of operation in such parts of the country which suits to their security interests and objectives but not to Pakistan’s security interests at this time, on the other hand it has a record of regaining Swat and South Wazirstan from the militants. The attack on PNS Mehran and previously on Pakistan Navy also compelled us to think on the security situation of the region and the policy of handing over the Gawadar port to Chinese, which they can used for “multipurposes”. In all the above discussion the situation can be analyzed very well that all this goes against whom’s interest’s and who is supporting the NSA in Pakistan?

observer | 12 years ago | Reply @Saquib Mahmood Luqman a TV anchor stated last day in a program at a national news channel with responsibility that these attac on PNS Mehran was outlined in RAW’s headquartes and terrorists involved were being trained by Mosad in Israel. Now that you have had the high of your conspiracy fix, have a taste of cold reality. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/ME27Df06.html To break the story in bite sized pieces for you, A, Several weeks ago, naval intelligence traced an al-Qaeda cell operating inside several navy bases in Karachi, the country's largest city and key port. B, after careful evaluation at least 10 people - mostly from the lower cadre - were arrested in a series of operations C, Al-Qaeda demanded the immediate release of the officials without further interrogation. This was rejected. D. Al-Qaeda rejected these terms and expressed its displeasure with the attacks on the navy buses in April. E. After Bin Laden was killed by American Navy Seals in Abbottabad, 60 kilometers north of Islamabad, militants decided the time was ripe for major action. F. Within a week, insiders at PNS Mehran provided maps, pictures of different exit and entry routes taken in daylight and at night, the location of hangers and details of likely reaction from external security forces. I hope the fog has sufficiently lifted and the wall and the writing both are visible. PS--- Was Luqman using the Orions to spy on the RAW blueprint and the MOSSAD training?

Saqib Mehmood | 12 years ago | Reply This is what a scenario builder must think exactly in this situation. This piece is not based upon the emotional considrations but seriously rationalized thoughts, logical not conspiratic. The problem is that we are still thinking that these attacks are tectical in nature and they have no strategic implications. This is where we have been and are going in wrong direction. Luqman a TV anchor stated last day in a program at a national news channel with responsibility that these attac on PNS Mehran was outlined in RAW's headquartes and terrorists involved were being trained by Mosad in Israel. Offccourse it was a tactical attack by small number of intruders on a sensitive naval installation but its implications are strategic in nature. India and Israel got two benifits from it. One they have damaged the serviellience capability and second they have fueled the international conspiracy against the security of Pakistani nukes. What America got in this whole game is just a vacume in which thy can persue Pakistan to start military operation in North Wazirstan and Haqqani network. In my point of view Zahir's perceptions are based upon real threat which we are facing these days and we can't laballed it as emotional analysis or conspiracy theory. Saqib Mehmood

observer | 12 years ago | Reply A. OK, So Hollywood says, US is working exra hard to take away Pak N assets. B. And NDU says, US 'sponsored' 'real mujahideens and patriots' ( a la Gen Gul) were used to take out the Orions in order to make the Indian Ocean 'safe' for US. Will someone please tell me why did US provide these goodies to Pakistan in the first place?

Abdur Rehman | 12 years ago | Reply Boy certainly has a gift for fiction.

Taimur | 12 years ago | Reply are you serious???? give me a break

Chotta Chetan | 12 years ago | Reply NSA=No strings attached, it was used in extra marital affairs, now its used in antional security lingo!

Vicram Singh | 12 years ago | Reply @MK: "Last point – why are the Indians perturbed on this article? The author’s comments are not directed against them!" Implications of comments, my Dear Watson - that's why.

AaZee | 12 years ago | Reply @PK. non-Sate actors is an established International Relations term and, to Mr. pk's delight, not coined by the Paksitanis. Let me give an example here. Osama bin Laden was a Saudi national. He was a monster jointly created by the U.S., Saudis and Pakistanis. The mercenary became a stateless actor after the Soviets were expelled from Afghanistan. The Saudis revoked his citizenship and he became a non-State actor. I think Pakistan must also declare all organisations with a middle 'e' as state-less or non-State actor. Its a million dollar suggestion for free. Al Qaeda is Al Fa'eda. These non-State actors are sponsored by States - so in a way they are foreign-state-sponsored NSAs :)

badar zaman | 12 years ago | Reply It is an excellent article telling the true side of the story.I will agree with author opinion and wt mobeen and ikram has commented and for those who do not know CTR the purpose of the CTR Program is to secure and dismantle weapons of mass destruction and their associated infrastructure in former Soviet Union states.

Abhi | 12 years ago | Reply this article can be published in "Nation"

Blondie | 12 years ago | Reply @ Waheed. Excellent question. There is a short and lonng answer. Short - U.S. has always made Pakistan is best ally because of the geogrpahical advantage. Long answer: The relations are based on the need of Islamabad's utility as a frontline state against Russians and for the Afghan Gold Mine (more than $ 2 trillion of untapped rare earth elements). With the competition with Chinese getting warmer - now the U.S. has cosied up to India. The other reason is India's unsatiable appetite to buy U.S. weapons ($ 100 bn budget for a decade). So its geo-politics and economy that draws or withdraws states to or from each other. Pakistan’s strategic advantage as the route to the Central Asia repeatedly draws Washington towards Islamabad. @ Amused - are the Wikileaks gospel? Wiki 'leaks', Butterfly doesn't :)

pk | 12 years ago | Reply 'NSA' word is invented in Pakistan. you will not find this word anywhere on globe other than Pakistan. Mr. Author, US, India are democratic countries and miltary is under civilian govt. Hence attack on civilian i.e. killing of innocent people will not be approved by these Govts Vs startergic assets supported by ISI. Work at MNS is definately by someone inside. Hence stop all these conspiracy theories and get your urdu media to openly condemn all outfits which have -e- letter in the middle. And I am sure this 'NSA' word will be vanished.

MK | 12 years ago | Reply I did some more Googling on the issue - the article makes sense if seen without coloured glasses. U.S. and NATO have always done exercises on the possibility of taking out Pakistan's nuclear weapons and Obama's Wars also vindicates the conclusion that such exercises precluded a direct attack. My Q to the well informed commentrators is what is the harm in painting a scenario and debating its likelihood? Express Tribune is doing a good job in maintaining the excellent tradition of bringing all shades of opinion in to public debate - that's what OP EDs page is meant for. Otherwise, the media in Pakistan is either left or right leaning - it's only ET that maintains the delicate balance. The same paper publishes Ejaz Haider's views - that depict a highly informed spectrum of debate. Apparently, no U.S. ciitizen has rebuked author's opinion - it's either peaceniks or biased persons (no offence meant) who have not debated the idea on its merit. Those who think Pakistan's NDU is paranoid have to relook what other renowned institutions are doing. For instance, see Ralph Peters 2006 article 'Blood Borders' http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2006/06/1833899. Its 'science fiction' par excellence - yet it was published in American Armed Forces Journal. Did it represent their government's view. A university is a university - they debate everything under the sun and no two people agree on one issue. See in today's ET Chomsky's article. Does 'stability' in relations only mean obedience? That's why Ayub Khan said 'friends, not masters'!

Amused | 12 years ago | Reply Summer Festival must be one of the lots Anne Patterson referred to in her cable.

Malay | 12 years ago | Reply Hamid Gul will be proud of you.

Summer Festival | 12 years ago | Reply Firstly the Hollywood scenarios on the possibility of the US to take over Pakistan's nuclear weapons are the product of western media and writings and not the author of this article, as many commentators have tried to portray. If the author's assertions, (which are his own and do not by any chance represent the views of NDU), appear to be fantastic to many, then the answer to these ought to have been by counter arguments and logic and not a mocking exercise, which seems to have been led by Indians here. Scenarios of the US creating the conditions for building a case as depicted by the author need not be dismissed outrightly. After all, it was the US Administration under George W. Bush that "invented" and "fabricated" false evidence against Iraq possessing imaginary WMDs. This was followed by a systematic media campaign to pave the way for the invasion of Iraq. In the end, no WMDs were found and intelligence was clearly fabricated to suit the goals of Washington. Of course, for the liberal Pakistani elite, sitting in Europe and the US, a de-fanged and de-nuclearized Pakistan is of no consequence. But for the millions who live here, these weapons are seen and have proven to be the guarantor of peace against Indian aggression. These are the crown jewels of Pakistan, and the people of Pakistan, who have sacrificed so much for developing them, won't let them be taken away so easily. As for the Indians, three out of five of your nuclear tests in 1998 fizzled. Next time you test, make sure your triggers work. If you have the capability, and the will, then try taking out Pakistan face to face. Why target Pakistani assets through non-state actors?

Amused | 12 years ago | Reply 'Darkly humorous', 'exhilaratingly unintelligent' and 'incredibly unremarkable'. If comments are anything to go by, this such gaffe by any NDU character should first be conscientiously checked if you don't want to make a fun of your newspaper quality. Please, you have a wide readership with thinking minds in it. And importantly, when you represent the country around the world, please don't become voice of starkly unacceptable fiction. The writer too, should take a stock of himself and quit writing, for ET at least.

FactCheck | 12 years ago | Reply @Mobeen: You think this diatribe sane then, you must be student of the same school or insane or both.

Ikram Ullah Khan | 12 years ago | Reply IFormer Naval Chief Admiral Afzal Tahir has stated that P-3C Orion aircraft induction would be in an obvious reference to India's growing naval presence. Reportedly Indians were not in the favor of P-3C Orion delivery to Pakistan. In this context you have been able to diagnose the root cause of this epidemic of NSAs attacks on Pakistan Navy .The Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani met in Sharm el Sheikh on July 16, 2009. Here Pakistani PM provided some evidences to his Indian counterpart related to Indian involvement inside Pakistan . .Hollywood movie " The Edge of Darkness" any one can see it at any time. Before May 28, 1998 then USA-President offered 5 billion $ not to conduct nuclear tests. This offer self explanatory in itself that USA was not ready to accept Pakistan as a Nuclear Weapon State at any cast. It might attempt to deprive it from its nukes also with same passion. The phrase the enemy of my enemy is my friend, is quite relevant Indo-USA have similar sentiment regarding Pakistan nukes thus their growing strategic cooperation is on the record. Here are few people those believe that Pakistan always unnecessarily blame India. These people are neglecting this reality that yet there is no official statement by MoFA regarding Indian or even USA's involvement at PNS Mehran. But it was India which officially blamed Pakistan after Mumbai attacks. I am agreed to Zahir Kazmi's opinion / analysis just because he has provided valid arguments . Now if some is not agree he /she should come with counter arguments; we all will say him welcome with honor and respect without any bias.

MK | 12 years ago | Reply I have read author’s last article too. He mentioned former NATO leaders’ 2008 theory and also mentioned that America should apparently have no interest in attacking Pakistan. So if the U.S. wants to achieve this purpose without aggression, what is the other option? His central argument is about the safety of Pakistan’s nukes, which cannot be taken by direct and brute force because no state will take a chance with even a single surviving weapon. Hence the current opinion talks of other possibility of ‘securing’ their nukes by bringing the country to a state that the world feels compelled to offer HELP. Skim Obama’s Wars to relate with the theory. Why doesn’t someone prove Bob Woodward – who is Washington Post’s most reputed investigative journalist – wrong? He has quoted the two top American leaders numerous times that and the war games about securing Pakistan’s weapons. They repeatedly concluded that a direct action was futile. So – doesn’t writer’s theory of using dirty bomb or destabilising Pakistan make sense? I pray that the poor man is proven wrong in his theory – because it can wreak havoc for the South Asians and the world at large. If there is some plan in deep recesses of planning – they would know that people can theorise and see what can be the ultimate goal? Last point – why are the Indians perturbed on this article? The author’s comments are not directed against them!

Usman | 12 years ago | Reply The author is confused. This article completely contradicts his previous one on May 14th.

amoghavarsha.ii | 12 years ago | Reply @author, there was an easier way of attacking pakistan with UNSC mandate than expolding dirty bomb on poor pakistani citizens. US has to just release documents of OSAMA ( may be fudging it ) saying it as authentic, with names of Kayani, pasha and a dozen each top men of army/air/navy personnel of pakistan, this would have been, much much easier way - cheap and best you know what I mean, even your close buddy( higher than deeper than ) will also fall for cheap and best things. ha ha ha.......economical dear friend.......be economical...

Waheed | 12 years ago | Reply Read the @Zahir Kazmi's piece and followup critique. I have a very basic question for the writer and all above commentators. "Why out of all the countries in the world US chose Pakistan to be their most blue eyed friend (after Israel) off course, why pay so much "Moolah" to make "Mullah", WHY help make "Nukes" to make a "Nuke gone wild" threat scenario, why provide so much military aid to create a powerful army than try to control it, why patronize a spy agency and than ensure its humiliation by pointing fingers" . Why they keep "Paying" an "Unreliable" coalition partner? Beats me! can't make anything out of it. If they get the kicks out of re writing the Dr. Frankenstein fable than i am willing to believe in every conspiracy theory.

Baacha | 12 years ago | Reply Agree with Mobeen that please comment rationaly rather than emotionally.The matter of the fact is ,it is evident from so many evidences that the powers divert the issues and falsify the scenarios.They (mentioned by author)speak so much lie that is percieved as truth. Who is behind Pkaitan's stability? i think the people on ground knows it better than every body else who are viewing the isues by third eye(media hype). Author is very acuurate to link the issues with the book but we have to recognise that the book mentions the top office bearers.

mind control | 12 years ago | Reply @Zahir Kazmi Extra-regional forces would find it difficult to operate in the Indian Ocean and secure Pakistan’s nukes so long as surveillance capability exists. You mean the Orions actually managed to keep the US and Russian fleets out of the Indian Ocean, while Pakistan had them.

sANTHOSH | 12 years ago | Reply Whao! Creative and fictional writings are taught in NDU? I thought neaxt version of Harry Porter. It's Pity that You (author) are anlysts. No wonder, why Pakistan is aith these policies!!!!!!!!!

Z.Z.SHAH | 12 years ago | Reply if people sitting in such places are producing such illogical,substandard and nasty material what to talk of uneducated politicians, this is purely reflecting Ur strategic thinking, what input u r giving to Ur policy makers, all fake@...................

Majid | 12 years ago | Reply A good article !! Taking stock of the responses to the article , it seems that there is an intellectual stagnation within the liberals when it comes to Anti- Americanism in Pakistan and there is little or no intellectual apetite among them to debate the US -Pakistan relations in an objective manner. There is a visible connection between US covert assets and terrorism inside Pakistan. I ask from the liberals -: -is it mere a coincident that the very security installations targetted by terrorists contained US personell in the guise of training and in extension leaking security details to attackers? Was not Raymond Davis cultivating agents within cetain banned militant outfits in Pakistan? -How will you distinguish between the percieved taliban militants and CIA trained Afghan counter terrorism pursuit teams while the latter has the ultimate capacity to carry out attacks to Pak security appratus? -Why Suicide bombings, target killings and assasinations have a specific time of starting and ending despite military operations in percieved terror safe heavens? It is high time to carve out a strategy to oust US from the region and Pakistan definately has the requisite political and military clout to execute such a strategy.

Imran | 12 years ago | Reply Mobeen, please also tell the name of fictions that carry ingenious ideas like "Cooperative threat reduction initiative"..Thanks. It must be the English translation of Nasim Hijazi's "Pehl bar kami-e Mushtarik khatra". :P

Tanveer | 12 years ago | Reply Excellent article, right on the bulls eye!

Bitter Pill | 12 years ago | Reply This blames the outsiders for the mess in Pak!!!!!

Mobeen | 12 years ago | Reply A well articulated piece. @ Above all ; Please comment rationally instead to putting emotional bursts. The writer has converged on a right conclusion based upon facts. It is a standard political practice that statements from official figures carries weight. So US objective to mount a massive pressure on Pakistan by politically targetting its nukes is believe able not because Bob woodwards say so. It is because US National Security Advisor, AF-PAK policy head Mr Bruice Reidal, US president Obama, Defense secretary Gates says so in their classified internal delibrations. More over the readers should read Cooperative threat reduction initiative ( CTR), a US nuclear "assistance" program for former USSR and its break away republics, and CHAP 7 resolutions regarding nuclear terrorism . Then one can easily imagine the scenario build up by Mr. Zahir in his article. Laslty, there is deep connection between terrorism and US illegal covert operatives inside Pakistan . Raymond Davis case is just a tip of an ice berg.

Sanjeev Jha | 12 years ago | Reply Zahir Kazmi rocks!!!!!!, what thought provoking ideas....absolute visionary, best story teller ...he will get a Pullitzer award in fiction category for his above write up. In his next write up he will inform that the winds that blow from India to Pakistan has been mixed with chloroform so that as entire Pakistan sleeps for few hours all the other spy agency will bring trucks... bullock cart and pull the nuke weapons out of Pakistan. In any other part of the world such crazy thinking person would have been put in a mental aslyum.

Pundit | 12 years ago | Reply Are you doing Masters degree in Conspiracy theories? Then who is your Guide: Hamid Gul

syed | 12 years ago | Reply IF NDU's master student can think so illogically on countries premier safety requirements then we are seriously producing weeds rather than productive crops for pakistan.

Shariq | 12 years ago | Reply Gotta love the fact that we are now using Hollywood movies as strategy / justification / teaching / whatever. This also explains the "Star Wars" reference made recently by a senior official in the government. What next? Transformers are amongst us!

Imran | 12 years ago | Reply What this writer's gems prove is the assertion of American officer at NDU and Anne Patterson's comments: "astonishingly naive and biased questions". And guess what, for 64 years it's the batch of these pseudo-intellectual military elite that is running the country Such articles adorn Margalla Papers or rupeenews.com well, not your space, Expree Tribune. But the world must be thankful to you as well for allowing these "learned of officers" advertise their (in)sanity in one of the reputed papers read by the world.

DG | 12 years ago | Reply The pointers from Pakistan might have severe implications in the near future not only for the immediate neighbourhood but also the target countries (Islamic far right) but also for Pakistan. Pakistan's obssession with India. This is a stated stand point of GoP. The internal state of preparedness (in term of nuclear weapons) and the added obssession of creating the strategic depth, points towards Pakistan's inability to contain good strategic asset or dubious intention to harm the neighbourhood through covert method. They look to be sure that India is going to attack inspite of India / World's opinion otherwise. This means that they know for sure that the provocations will not be stopped for that to happen. Again that has been the GoP's stated stand that they will not like to lose out on their strategic assets like LeT & JuD. Similarly on the Afghan side it is the Afghan Taliban. Now let us see what this implies. The intentions of GoP and LeT converge on India. The intention of GoP and Afghan Taliban converge on Afghanistan. Though the combination of LeT, TTP, Afghan Taliban, AQ have other targets like US, Europe and Israel. Though there is lot of public support on this from Pakistan but this is not the official stand point of GoP. This converging of certain ideas mean different for different groups. GoP and LeT has intention to cause harm to India. But also at the same time ensure that there is no proofs to directly implicate GoP. LeT, TTP, Afghan Taliban, AQ have intention to harm the world and again they need something special to cause a spectacular event. The present trend of the world of terrorism shows the macro level pattern. All hues of terrorism whether Islamic or not have mostly converged to Pakistan for training, guidance, etc. This is only the surface. The biggest ones are having deeper intentions. To get the special bomb. The attraction of it is pulling the terrorists from all over the world. But this might not remain this simple. Till now under intense scrutiny, GoP (along with PA & ISI) have been conscious about the security of the nuclear materials & assets. China has preffered to turn a blind eye for any activities till it does not hamper its interest. The intense obsession to cause harm to India will weaken the will to protect & secure the assets. There will be an occassion when the strategic asset (LeT & Dawood gang) will be called for action and this time with an unnamed special bomb to be planted in some special place in India. Again they can conveniently deny (without any direct proof) and put the blame on India. Pakistan has to be ready for the fall out. That is why it keeps its miliatry, government and people always on war hysteria. This will also possibly lead to other leaks which LeT will share with the other groups and thus one will have several dirty bombs all over the world. The source can be many as per the GoP and thus the denial. Till Pakistan gets rid of the good and bad assets (terrorists by world definitions) and be transperant on the nuclear front, there will be worry. It is necessary that Pakistan becomes a normal matured country without any obsession till then the world will remain worried and that is more so for India.

Bilal | 12 years ago | Reply Good to see my tax money is being put to innovative uses. More serious conspiracy theorizing and less cornflakes please!

Singh | 12 years ago | Reply With such a brilliant mind in making you don't need enemy.Analysis pick from Hollywood movie next level is Bollywood then Lollywood. Fantastic.

A | 12 years ago | Reply We're in trouble because of guys like him. I hope this is his own opinion and not what they teach at NDU! If it is then we are destined for doom. God help us.

Truth Seeker | 12 years ago | Reply @Nadir El-Edroos: Don't be surprised, this is what they are taught, and their survival needs a real or imagined enemy. This mindset is nourishing on conspiracy theories , because conspiracy relieves you of hard work to search for the real causes. 'When you join the Army, you give up your freedom, both physical and mental' was stated by a soldier after serving five years. And mentally freed man looks for easy answers.An old jingle, true for all armies of the world, encapsulates a soldier's life: If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move pick it up. If you can't pick it up, paint it. If it has a gun, think ......... but you are not supposed to think. Because you are a soldier. You are there to obey. It is never how and why, it is always do or die.

AzA | 12 years ago | Reply Agree with El-Edroos's comment above. The author must have been reading too many whodunnit stories. Why, are the Pak nukes piled in a crate of apples that someone will walk away with them?

Chotta Chetan | 12 years ago | Reply Also what is NSA? why hasnt the author used the word Terrorists? Or does this word not exist the jargon of NDU curriculum?

Chotta Chetan | 12 years ago | Reply Agree with Jibreel 100%. No wonder NDU and govt people are watching too much Hollywood movies (and who knows what else...). Rehman Malik also dropped the gem of start wars troopers attacking PNS Mehran. Tomorrow he will hold up a press conference accusing not the Taliban, India or CIA/MOSSAD/RAW but Darth Vader of all these attacks. The stupidity of these people makes laugh

Vicram Singh | 12 years ago | Reply @author - " Lastly, Pakistan must find its spine, take a strong stand and ensure that it has the last laugh. " The last laugh part might be a tad bit difficult now - the U.S and other western powers have finally realized, albeit late that Pakistan has been having the last laugh all along in the "war-against-terror" as a so called "front-line-ally". But I overall agree with your theme - an amphibious assault or landing in Karachi seems to be the direction in which will be going. The US 7th fleet that the Pakistani Military so eagerly waited for in 1971, might finally pay a visit.

shobz | 12 years ago | Reply He didn't get his facts straight. Bob Woodward never won the Pulitzer Prize for Obama's Wars. Bob Woodward won the Pultizer prize for his story about the watergate scandal for the Washington Post. Can ET at least get some fact checkers before they publish stories?

AnIndian | 12 years ago | Reply NDU material is so sub-sub-sub-sub-Standard...

Vidyut Kale | 12 years ago | Reply I want whatever he's smoking.

bc49er | 12 years ago | Reply Umm.... America supplied the P-3C Orions in the first place. And so they decided to destroy them to limit Pakistan's capabilities? Why were they given to Pakistan in the first place. and you have 2 more.

Jibreel | 12 years ago | Reply THIS is NDU? making up a whole conclusion on just TWO pieces of fact (a quotation out of context and the destruction of naval surveillance craft) and the plot of a HOLLYWOOD MOVIE? These are possibilities agreed, but you have just contradicted the wealth of other facts which can't be 'forged' as propaganda by the CIA : PAKSTAN is paid millions of dollars to help guard it's nuclear assets, apart from the billions given to the government as economic and military aid. THOSE aircraft came from the the same US you say helped destroy them, with at least 2 more on the way. YOU CITED A MOVIE PLOT TO PROVE YOUR STORY WAS CORRECT? THATS WHAT OUR STUDENTS LEARN AT NDU? tabh to ho gaya defence. Please state ONE time when the USA risked such a thing (above plot) to occupy a foreign country. Pretty far fetched till now. ( DO NOT cite Iraq, Afghanistan OR Libya. those are completely different scenarios themselves. they are NOT parallels) Shamsi air base was given by your own military to the 'CIA'. Predator drones were supposedly removed when the Pak Military demanded it in 2009, but the military did NOT demand the base back. Have you checked wikileaks? Don't tell me its western propaganda. Its way too big to be completely falsified and it tarnishes USA's image the most so you can't say they forged it. If the CIA was backing NSA's, whats up with the 200 or so per year drone strikes in FATA? WITH the approval of the army? YOUR OWN MILITARY AND ISI is SELECTIVELY targetting miltants (see supposed good militants and bad militants). CIA is the one trying to hunt them ALL to help their mission in Afghanistan but ur ISI refuses to go against certain 'good' militants to help them in the 'endgame' in Afghanistan In the end, I would like to mention I am NOT Pro-US. I would be rather happy they left the continent and we sorted our mess, got less dependant on their aid, and also get robbed of any excuse to harbour more militants in the name of 'strategic depth'. I am rather pretty shocked at the conclusions drawn in an article which represents what is taught at National Defence University, and just proving what you missed.

faraz | 12 years ago | Reply "US can make a dirty bomb by using traces from another country’s nuclear material, explode it on its own soil, give false proof in justification and then punish the target country." Despite his infinitely fertile imagination, even Zaid Hamid couldn’t have come up with this idea.

Nadir El-Edroos | 12 years ago | Reply Seriously, is this what our top officers are taught at the NDU? Yes America wants to get our nukes! Why are they lined up in a warehouse somewhere? CIA sponsored NSA actors? Its been 10 years now, as you said the military has been so successful, if so have they found any evidence of CIA involvement? And if so then why do we continue to work with them? Great work quoting out of context, "securing nukes" doesnt have to mean that America wants to come and take them away, it means that they want to insure that they do not get away from us. Hence the many millions of aid to help secure the weapons. Hence, the several meeting of General(r) Kidwai with US officials and diplomatic coprs explain the many layers of security. Dont know about Bob Woodward, but you have just proven one of the recent Wikileaks cable right http://www.dawn.com/2011/05/25/us-thinks-anti-americanism-rife-in-ndu.html

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

TRIBUNE VIDEOS

112 K

Taylor Swift Releases The Tortured Poets Department | Is Fortnight about Joe Alwyn? | Latest News

Muhammad Aurangzeb: Pakistan Targets Longer IMF Loan for Stability |Pakistan News| Breaking News

Pakistan Laments US Veto on Palestinian Statehood Resolution |Breaking News| International News

Iran Warns Israel at UN: Stop Military Moves | Iran Attack | Latest News

Iran Under Attack: Iran Reacts to Israel Strikes on Isfahan | Iran Attack | Latest News

Assessing Iran's Reaction to Israeli Assaults: Analyst Perspective | Iran Attack | Latest News

Karachi Suicide Bomber Killed: Police Save Japanese Nationals | Pakistan News | Latest News

Israel Attacks Iran with Missiles: Flight Chaos Ensues | Iran Attack | Latest News

Israelis React to Attack on Iran by Israel | Iran Attack | Latest News

Footage: Israel Launches Retaliatory Drone Strikes on Isfahan | Iran Attack | Latest News

Iran Under Attack as Israel Strikes Drones Over Isfahan | Iran Attack | Latest News

Unpacking Iran’s Attack on Israel: Another World War? | Latest News | Iran VS Israel

Asna Tabassum Clarifies her Valedictorian Speech Controversy at USC | Latest News

Dubai Airport Crisis: Misbah & Kamran Akmal Stranded Amid Record Rainfall |Breaking News| |Pakistan|

Joint Session: President Zardari's call for unity |Pakistan News| |Breaking News|

Barcelona Goodbye: Nadal's Quest for French Open Glory |Sports| |International|

Babar Azam Addresses Fight With Shaheen Before New Zealand Series | Pakistan News | Latest News

Mohammad Hafeez Criticizes Cricket Board's Decision to Make Babar Azam Captain | Pakistan News

Army Launches Investigation into Ex-ISI Chief Faiz Hameed |Breaking News | Pakistan News

Was the Dubai Storm a Result of Cloud Seeding by the UAE? | Dubai Rain Update | Dubai Weather Update

Trump Trial: Former US President Challenges Judge's Impartiality in Hush-Money Case

Dubai Floods: Residents' Struggle During Torrential Rain

Karachi Rain: Alert Extends to Karachi as Rains Lash Balochistan, Sindh, and KPK | Pakistan News

Netanyahu Stands Firm: Israel will make its own decisions about Iran Conflict

Analyst Warns of Uncertainty as Oil Prices Cool Off

Did Kick streamer “N3on” die while in custody of UAE?

Record Rainfall Floods UAE: Historic Weather Disrupts Dubai

Matthew Miller on Pakistan's IMF Deal and India-Pakistan Tensions

Warning Shots: Iran's Raisi Threatens Israel with Retaliation

U.S. Response to Israel's Deadly Iran Consulate Bombing in Syria

UK's David Cameron Urges Caution Amid Iran-Israel Tensions

Pilots Raise Alarms: Safety Issues on American Airlines Flights

Saudi-Pakistan Ties Boosted: $25B Investment Promised in Landmark Visit

University of Southern California Cancels Muslim Valedictorian's Speech Over Pro-Palestine Posts

Australia Announces $32 Billion Defense Boost for Missiles, Drones, and Warships

Israel Sends Clear Warning to Iran | Plans Calculated Response to Drone Attacks

Erdogan Accuses Netanyahu of Provoking Middle East Conflict

Pakistan’s day of infamy

Recommended Stories

Latest

T.Edit

On Express Urdu

Most Read

Opinion

FOLLOW US

Pakistan’s day of infamy

Join Us

Recommended Stories

Latest

T.Edit

On Express Urdu

Most Read

Opinion

FOLLOW US