Responding to airspace violation takes time: Musharraf
“A reaction takes some time,” he said in an interview with Express News on Thursday night's show To The Point. “Reacting against something like what happened in Mohmand Agency cannot be immediate.”
While Musharraf emphasized that the Pakistan Air Force is “very much capable” of monitoring the country’s airspace, he admitted that radar coverage along the Pak-Afghan border is not as strong as Pakistan’s eastern frontier.
“Our radar coverage on the western border is not as much as it is on the east. The east has full radar coverage,” he said, adding that there exist dead zones in the mountainous region in the west where there is no radar coverage.
He also explained that the response to an airspace violation cannot always be immediate since military channels have to follow a procedure whereby a request must be forwarded to air channels before any action is taken.
Responding to the question regarding whether Pakistan should take military action against international security forces that violate its airspace, Musharraf said that a response can only be taken after great deliberation.
“We need to think about how capable we are of a military response. We need to evaluate if a military response will be in our favour,” he said, adding that the pros and cons of such action need to weighed before making a move.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Thursday authorized its local commanders deployed near the Afghan border to retaliate to any future incursions by Nato forces. Nato helicopters and fighter jets attacked two military border posts in northwest Pakistan on November 26, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers in the worst incident of its kind since Islamabad allied itself with Washington in 2001 in the war on militancy.
Pakistan has responded to the attack by cutting off Nato supplies to Afghanistan through Pakistan and refusing to attend the Bonn conference in Germany. The Pakistani government has also demanded for the Shamsi airbase– being used for the drone strikes – to be shut down.
When asked what diplomatic and military response he would have deemed appropriate in the aftermath of the attack if he were in power, Musharraf said that Pakistan’s response to the situation was fitting.
“How can we go to the Bonn conference when our nation is infuriated?” he asked, adding that other diplomatic moves such as bringing the incident to the attention of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and United Nations (UN) would also be appropriate.
He also said that monetary compensation for the deceased soldiers should be demanded, and other demands should be negotiated with Nato and America.
Musharraf said that a “deterrent response” or warning could be issued to those who violate Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Musharraf served as the president of Pakistan from 2001-08. In the face of impeachment, he resigned on 18 August 2008, but announced last year that he would return to politics, form a new political party and stand for parliament at the next general election in 2013.
COMMENTS (33)
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@Akthar: You are completely wrong. Those were aircraft meant for MARITIME survelliance and belong to the Pakistan Navy.
I am talking about the FOUR Saab-2000 ERIEYE AEW&C's and the Chinese Shaanxi ZDK-03 Early Warning & Control (AEW&C).
Please don't confuse readers.
Well, as usual a sensible statement issued by Gen. Musharraf, he understands the ground realities very well and always talks facts. Bravo General... waiting for Jan when you will be in Pakistan.
I guess the Pakistani army was waiting for NATO to run out of ammunition before attacking, Please understand It takes time (more than two hours) to run out of ammo
Only handcuffing an elected PM can be decided in 15 minutes and chief justice in 15 sec..ofcourse it is fast becaz no discussion is necessary
That's it. Next time I hear we're under attack on the border, I'm gonna drive up in my Toyota Corolla and take on these Nato guys myself. With my Sat Nav and Google map I'll be there well before the chaps in F-16 and AWACS and the what nots. Wait till they get a taste of my single minded solitery sniping skills, they'll be sorry yet! Hah, in my trusted hiking boots and wind proof parka, they won't stand a chance against my twin barrelled pellet shooter. Right, where's my short wave radio and the morse code book? Tally ho ye naughty Nato, this old warrior will show you - you've bitten off more than you can chew. Remember Rambo and the Russians? This is Yawar v the Yankees. Let's get ready for the rumble.....!
"“Our radar coverage on the western border is not as much as it is on the east. The east has full radar coverage,” he said, adding that there exist dead zones in the mountainous region in the west where there is no radar coverage"
The issue of radar coverage is moot when the bombing went on for 2 hours. Also Pakistan says that they were pleading with NATO to stop the bombing. Does that not prove that there was awareness about the shooting going on?
Plus Pakistani TV channels have been claiming for a while that US plans to neutralise Pakistan nuclear assets. If this is a legitimate fear then why would you have blind spots in your coverage on the Western fronts? After all after the OBL incident, did Pakistan not claim that they were complacent about the Western border in the past but in future they would give a firm response if there was any incursion from the Western border?.
@ Hamza I love your sense of humour!!!!!!! You are jokin Right
Tribune is so Pro- Mushi :)
I suppose this explains why Pakistan has yet to win a war.
the former president is correct. any response to these sort of aggressive acts must be measured and well thought out. there is no room for personal bravado in international diplomacy. the lives if 180 million people rests on it. the coalition forces should know they cannot take pakistan lightly, but at the same time honestly speaking, pakistan is not in a position in any way to fight NATO or ISAF. thats europe and the US for all intent and purpose. we cannot fight them (atleast not alone).
If NATO loot all neuks from Pakistan what PAF will do coz it needs two hours to respond where US operation need only one hour as it was in Abotabad .
The PAF could have responded within minutes. Did they not intercept an Indian chopper just recently and made it land in Pak? This was Zardari's game plan and finally Kayani has woken up and ordered shoot without order if attacked again. PAF could have been scrambled in minutes if ordered but the orders didnt come from this corrupt US stooge govt.
After the repeated inaction despite all the chest thumping and muscle flexing, now Mush's statement proves that all invaders from the West have "a grace period of minimum 2 hours". Indian or Israeli (assumed enemies) can come from the West and they would have at least 2 hourst to complete their mission. Why are we keeping such a huge army and air force is they cannot be awake even after 2 hours. As more facts and recordings come out this attack lasted 5-6 hours.
This is not Pakistan's Eastern border with India.
So people thinks the PAF should have responded as rapidly as Musharraf responded to Armitage's call?
even PIA could have responded to the attack in this amount of time
Those who say our army is not good enough to stand a chance against U.S army..Are those people forgot that Talibans with just a AK47's brought US on the knees...Coz that part of the world is very very sophisticated ..only those who have strong will and stamina can stand a chance..Plus its the pilot who makes an aircraft work ..and we got the best of those !!
@Akhtar what a sensible chap, Bravo!
Why does'nt Musharraf say that the US must apologize - He wants their support to come back to Pakistan - This person cannot be inactive...
I watched Musharraf's interview, which was analytical and truthful. I watch and listen to him because he does not lie and speaks from core of his heart. I wish Pakistan could have a few more patriotic and sincere leader as Musharraf. All other heavy weights are just trying to fool us - the new generation does not accept hippocratic statements and topi dramas anymore.
@Aristo: Your comment maybe be correct when the country is in a state of war. But at the time of NATO attack, alert level could have been low as such the time required. Gen Kayani has corrected this and authorised use of force as and when it occurs without contacting higher ups.
I guess what could have gone wrong; they must have deployed Chinese radars; crux of the matter.....
@Meekal Ahmed The Airborne radar and Surveillance equipment have been destroyed in the militant attack on the PNS. There`s only one left and the other is under maintenance. Rogue Elements within the PNS were later arrested who have close link with Islamic Militants. Also, the AWACS are not flown 24x7. But its true that we have limited capability to attack with convential arms as most of fighter Aircraft like JF Thunders are 3.5 Generation & though we have F-16 4th Generation fighter, they are no match for the 5 generation fighters. Our Military is no match against US & NATO & all these statements are for public consumption. We cant expect military support from the chinese as they hardly supported us during kargil. The only way we can hurt is by blocking supplies. Nothing beyond.
The Pakistan army should keep clear watch on the any aggression from any part of the work or any region forces or country force, if there is international Low than we have to watch our border and stop any action through our Air forces, why we are not deploying troops to the Afghan Border which is equal important as Indian border, pakistan should have to protect there border from any aggression of the world. This is responsibility of our Army to protect the sovereignty of the great nation, we do not need to boycott any NATO/ US we just need to stop the Air strike from any nation bringing down there missiles or reply the Air strikes from NATO and US, as they are not doing right to pakistan we should reply with the same aggression.
Love Musharraf's Honesty. He even praises his opponants where required. Non in Pak Politics can reach his hights.
Our radar coverage on the western border is not as much as it is on the east
for what? India does not want to attack pakistan anytime.
He means, they should learn from me, I made millions of dollars using this strategy. All for sale!!
Today Pakistan is in big mess up due to this person. Even Hussain Haqqani was appointed as ambassador by his recommendation.
He was a firm leader whether nation agree or not.
Doesn't Mush know we have airborne radar and surveillance equipment in the PAF and PN purchased from the Swedes and the Chinese?
Where were they? Aren't they supposed to patrol our skies or do they just sit on the ground?
Musharraf never lies.
Apparently in Pakistan only, it takes more than two hours for the Air force to respond, is he serious because this is not the time to be joking around.