The Special Response Force (SRF) – which graduated from the Strategic Plans Division Training Academy – was inducted on Monday to safeguard what the military calls ‘national strategic assets’.
Lt-Gen (retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Director General of the Strategic Plans Division, reviewed the passing out parade at the academy near Rawalpindi.
Speaking on the occasion, Kidwai emphasised in unequivocal terms the responsibilities of the new force.
“I’m sure if ever challenged, your response actions will serve to make an example to any potential aggressor,” a military statement quoted him as saying in his address.
After proliferation incidents of the late 90’s, apprehensions have been expressed time and again over the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear assets.
Military sources claimed that the new force would deal with any possible internal or external threats to the country’s nuclear arsenals.
“The new force has been trained over various safety security aspects, including oversight over technological and human factors. It has also been given comprehensive training to respond rapidly in case of any sabotage activity - internal or external,” a military official told The Express Tribune.
The official, who requested anonymity, claimed that Pakistan has established high standards in training on nuclear safety procedures and is in a position to offer such training to other countries.
Instructors from Pakistan’s elite Special Services Group and a number of other experts in security and crisis management imparted training to this new force, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (22)
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@ASHOK
Pakistani currency is rupees. It is true when u r burning in hate, you can't think straight.
Even if one guy among them has Radical Islamist leanings, the whole operation becomes useless.
Same thing happened with Karachi Naval attack. The attackers had sympathizers within the compound and knew the area in and out. They destroyed planes worth Billions!
Kudos to Pakistan - anything that provides additional safety to WMD is good.
Our atomic bomb capability is the only Firewall between a " sheep & WOLF".
@Bill: Agree with you brother... the indian trolls just want to potray a negative image of Pakistan whatever the story... just shows the state of their minds...
@Khalid Javed: Very rightly said, as for Ashok i think VK Singh speaks for us all, there is no Artilley, no armour, no infantry i guess the only force on the other side of Wagah is that of their own thinking
@Ashraf Ahmed: Please refresh screen brother
@Ashraf Ahmed:
Shame on your Indianized response if you are a a Pakistani. How pathetically brainwashed lads like you are!!!!!!!!!
@Ashok: my dear, stop worrying about what our people know about our army, try to focus on your own mess.
@Bill: Can't see any comments for vasan LOL
@tribune: "Yet another 'security' force is raised to 'impose' measures." what do you mean by this tag line. You do not do such stuff in news reporting! leave such rhetoric and punctuation for opinions and editorials, report what you observe not what 'Our correspondent' opines.
@vasan: no vasan, hafiz saeed doesnot rely on army for his protection, he has heavy following and influence over huge number of people. the news is about pakistan raising special force to protects its assets from internal and external threats. india still is bigger threat interms of our enemies, we intend to defend ourselves from the ploys of india, which is breeding terrorists in our areas near to afghan border.
I hope these are professional troops motivated by nationalism, not some soldiers of ummah having weird fantasies of global domination
According to Pakistan army, Nuclear bombs and trained Jehadi terrorists, not well-educated Pakistani citizens are Pakistan's assets.
These assets were created to defend Pakistan's ideological and physical boundaries.
Now Pakistan army has to defend those who were meant to defend them. What an irony.
Not many Pakistani know how much their army has been spending on fighting Jehadi assets and on defending their nuclear assets.
More the number of nuclear bombs (now anticipated around 200 and growing every hour), more they would spend to defend each piece.
Good use of poor Pakistanis tax dollars.
@Ashraf Ahmed: my comment for Vassan goes for you too
@vasan: As always, acted like a true "realist". I do believe that there are somethings that need to be learnt from but put aside, yes it was a failure of astronomical proportions and yes it was a cause of concern, but lest you project confidence to your nation, there will not be one to protect. As for Hafiz Saeed, my dear Vassan have you heard of Shiv Sena?, have you heard of KKK? have you heard of the "pure Barmies", have you heard of the "tsar xenos", my friend every country has its share, but few have geniuses that point them out for the world to comment upon, grow up
From national strategic assets they mean Haqqanis or TTP??
Thanks ET for some independent reporting from a Pakistani perspective, especially on our armed forces rather than copy/pasting what ever foreign news agencies have to say about them. Not sure how long this will continue though, US lobbyists are present all over the country engaging with media outlets to portray their point of view.
"what the military calls ‘national strategic assets’" Tribune: It would have been more appropriate had you written it as "what the Pakistani Nation calls 'National Strategic Assets'.
After OBL raid, Pak army is doubling the security of all its strategic assets, including, I guess, Hafiz sayeed,
i hope it is as well trained as general kadwai claims, we certainly have some small islands of excellence .
Long Live Pak Army. Long Live Pakistan.