Abbottabad incursion: US took advantage of ‘peacetime mode’
Radars on Pakistan’s western borders were operating in ‘peacetime mode’, inhibiting their ability to detect intruding US helicopters, air force officials told an inquiry commission on the May 2 US incursion in Abbottabad in which al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed.
The commission, headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, during its second meeting questioned Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Ops) Air Marshal Mohammad Hassan about the incident.
“He (Air Marshal Hassan) also indicated situations where the radar system cannot detect an intruding aircraft/helicopter due to terrain limitations. He stated that for the past many years, and prior to May 2 this year, the PAF (Pakistan Air Force) has maintained peace time posture on its western borders,” a statement issued by the secretariat of the commission said.
Other members of the commission are Abbas Khan, a former inspector-general of police, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, a former diplomat, and Lt-Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed.
The commission is to ascertain facts regarding Bin Laden’s lengthy presence in Pakistan, investigate the circumstances and facts surrounding the US operation, determine the nature, background and causes of lapses of the authorities concerned, if any, and make consequential recommendations.
During its meeting last week, the commission had asked the civilian and military authorities to ensure that Bin Laden’s family does not leave the country without the permission of the commission.
It decided to summon military and civilian officials and said it would welcome public input if anyone wanted to share some specific information about the incident.
Air Marshal Hassan also submitted a statement highlighting the events leading to the US incursion in Abbottabad. He elaborated the functioning of the radar system which formed the fundamental component of PAF’s air defence system.
He informed the commission about various locations of low- and high-altitude PAF radars and their operational mechanism during war as well as peace.
After he gave a detailed briefing on PAF’s behalf, members of the commission asked him various questions.
He informed the commission that, on learning about the US operation, PAF took adequate operational measures as per standard operating procedure (SOP) and its aircraft continued their presence in the Abbottabad area till early morning, returning later to their respective bases.
The commission will hold its next meeting on July 18 and it is likely that the Director-General Military Operations will brief the commission.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2011.
COMMENTS (15)
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After reading all these comments, I am sure this nation is going to end nowhere. We've long lost our objectivity and there seems to be not an iota of common sense or logic in what we speak or write. disappointing.
And Pray, What is 'Peace Time Mode'? Watching Star Channel and Zee Plus on radarscope or going off duty at 1700 hrs and to bed by 2200 hrs, as asserted by the jokes circulating in the SMSes?
Really?!? Peacetime mode!
What type of drugs is the PAF on?
The entire General Staff of the military should resign. Idiots.
Based on the responses it would appear that many Pakistani's want a bullet proof radar system which would prevent the USA from entering the country undetected -- of course no such animal exist but you could always borrow Trillion dollars from the Chinese and give it a shot. Unfortunately for Pakistan if the USA knows there is a high level target inside Pakistan there going to take him out -- whether you see them coming or not - and borrowing from the Chinese can't solve that one. It's more cost effective and better for your countries image to just deny bad guys safe haven's.
No öne will resign.
Pakistan should have closed diplomatic relations with the US after the raid and should have ended all cooperation with them, the fact that this did not happen shows a big game being played out at the cost of Pakistan!!!
On whose orders direction or instruction & for what pupose PAF chief maintained peace time status on western borders? would he like to explain it? Which is the closly located Combat air(including aviation) & ground base force which could have reacted to the situation & in what possible time frame? At what time commandant PMA & SSP Abbottabad came to know about the incident & what did they do after being informed. Who is responcible for transfrontier intelligence on western borders & what measures, methods & procedures were adopted to gain an input of activities at Kabul/Afghanistan concerning Pakistan? These are the few questions which at the moment are boggling my mind ,if commissioner could give it a try.
Give us all a break and stop giving such lame justifications, it is like rubbing salt & red chilli on our wounds.
Learn something from your fraternity brothers as the defense minister of Cyprus and his army chief have both resigned in the wake of a powerful explosion at a military base near the southern Cypriot city of Limassol which left at least 12 people dead.
Justice javed iqbal is my real uncle :)
...Peacetime mode? That opens up a whole new box of shame and lies.
the only thing US took advantage of was our utter cluelessness and stupidity...
lets stop blaming others for our mistakes and take ownership for once so that we can finally move towards taking corrective action!!!
“He stated that for the past many years, and prior to May 2 this year, the PAF (Pakistan Air Force) has maintained peace time posture on its western borders”
Wow …. What a war on terror ?
So Pakistanis are with Mr Laden and not with Americans who killed him. Why didn't they say so in 2001 .. Americans had plans ready to send Pakistan to Stone age ..
It's not too late anyways .. just wait for Pakistan's turn ...
The US knew about the weaknesses of Pakistani equipment and personnel and they sure took advantage of that. It is that simple. All the previous talk of stealth and not visible on radar was bogus. The US used several helicopters that were conventional and they flew more than 250 miles each way and were not using a magic lamp. It is very true that as soon as the US mission was complete Pakistani forces came into action both in the air and on the ground.