WASHINGTON DC: This is with reference to Ejaz Haider’s article of November 30 titled “Do away with the charade”. The question about Pakistan’s response to Nato’s attack is an important one. There was an obvious lack of coordination on the Pakistan side. Reinforcements were sent in after the first attack, however, they were also ill-equipped and suffered casualties.
It will be interesting to know how far up the chain of command the news of the initial attack went and what decisions were made at what level. Some news sources have suggested that the Pakistan military did not realise the true extent of the casualties until daybreak. If that is the case then it is inexcusable. The second aspect is the lack of communication between the army and the air force. What assumptions were made by the command as they came to terms with the attack? While the blame for the casualties may solely rest with the aggressive Isaf command across the border, the security apparatus will have to answer these questions if the deaths of two dozen of Pakistan’s finest are not to be in vain.
Imran Khalid
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2011.
