Kamra was waiting to happen, having been attacked on the periphery twice before. The attack this time was meticulously planned and targeted equipment, just like the more damaging attack at the Mehran Airbase in Karachi, which resulted in the complete destruction of two P3C Orion aircraft and, reportedly, left a third partially damaged.
The upgraded Orion aircraft were the Pakistan Navy’s foremost force-multiplier platforms, equipped with a Hawkeye 2000 AEW system.
The attack’s objective was to deprive the Pakistan Navy of its eyes.
Whatever secondary objectives the attackers might have planned to achieve with the attack on Kamra, their primary target was the Saab 2000 aircraft fitted with the Erieye AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) system.
This time, it was an attack on the Pakistan Air Force’s eyes.
The Saab’s nose cone has been damaged and the aircraft will go to Sweden for repairs. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had pined for an early warning system for long. The platform is crucial for a number of reasons and can be used to counter many potential and emerging threats.
The obvious question: Why is the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its affiliate groups and al Qaeda interested in degrading a capability that is primarily meant to blunt the advantage of state adversaries? Except in some instances, aerial strafing and bombing have not been very effective against elusive TTP fighters during the military operations. In fact, the Cobra helicopter gunships, where and when employed correctly, have been more lethal.
Could it be that the TTP’s references to Islam are a red-herring and it is actually serving someone else’s agenda? Those who want to jaw-jaw with the TTP may want to ponder this question. They may also want to admit that the sectarian attacks are being mounted by groups affiliated with the TTP. Those attacks have nothing to do with the American presence in Afghanistan. They not only pre-date the US invasion but relate to denominational differences within Islam.
The Kamra attack did not go through well for the terrorists. Security at the base responded with alacrity, managed to contain the damage and kill the nine terrorists. From what has been reported, the base commander led from the front for which he must be commended. It could have been worse. Yet, questions remain. Consider some.
There was a warning that a base would be attacked. What was the level of alert? How was the report graded? What channels did the report go through? What action, if any, was taken? We do know that a number of intelligence agencies are spoiling the broth in the absence of any organisation that can collate and analyse information and intelligence coming from various sources, a vital exercise to develop a proper picture. There is, in one word, little to no coordination.
Add to that the fact that we have no information on inquiry reports following the GHQ and PNS Mehran attacks. It’s not enough to say action has been taken and lessons learnt internally. Organisation theory is clear on two aspects that inform large-scale bureaucratic organisations: bounded rationality and systematic stupidity. Given these constants, it is crucial to have external input and scrutiny of what’s going on and what is being done. There are ways in which this can be done, if there is a will to do it.
Here’s an example of how we are responding to this threat. Rewind to the night of August 13. There’s the Azadi Parade at Pakistan Military Academy (PMA). Regardless of what the army chief said there – though he had no business saying that if the civilian principals were not so inefficient – one has to ask the question of why we need another parade at PMA when the institution already has two designated passing out parades in a year. The parade was good, choreographed to a tee. But that is precisely the point: it takes a month-and-half to two months to make it so good, from getting the drill movements right to making all the administrative arrangements. Those daily rehearsals cut into training time.
And training time is a life-saver, given that we are at war. Consider the contrast: PMA offers two years of infantry training to all cadets. Those who join infantry regiments then go for a six-month Young Officers Basic Course at the School of Infantry and Tactics. Some, as from other arms too, would go on to the Special Services Group. Another nine months. All told, this is more than three years. The Taliban are producing a quality fighter in four to six months with map-reading, signals and field engineering skills, field craft, weapons handling, etc.
This is no time to be ceremonial
The state is not responding well at any level: motivation, clarity of purpose, operational capabilities, effective intelligence and pre-emption. The war, after a lull, is about to ramp up. The state cannot afford enervation if it doesn’t want to lose.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (22)
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@antony: Similar to your comment,what's about the Mumbai attack. how can you assume it is isi which is working with terrorists? Lets suppose it is indeed isi objective to lead these attacks ,why would they plan for just 12 to 25 terrorist and why not multiprong attack with back up reinforcements and voip phones with satellite guidance ? ..As a civilian I can design a plan like that and you are expecting isi to execute this small attack via terrorists to get mixed results ?
Yes Ejaz Haider. We say Tomayto, you say Tomato. Whether TTP is foreign backed or not is beside the point, they need to be countered. Let's get the operation started. The army should spend the money it gets from the US to protect the country, not the scam innocent pakistanis with DHA.
@antony:
That's because RAW is competent.
After Mehran and now Kamra incident where the watchful eye of PAF was again tried to be blunted is no doubt a very serious international conspiracy against our Nuclear assets. The authorities in Pakistan have either knowingly turn blind eye toward the security of the country or may be living in fools paradise blaming TTP the caved men keep on running here and there. If this incident would have happened anywhere in the world many top notch would be asked to quit their posts..........but sorry to say this is PAKISTAN, with never mind approach. I am very sorry to have read in leading Pakistani newspaper that the lone Police Mobile of local Kamra Police station registered a cut in their fuel quota compromising vigilance around the air base......AMAZING Welcome to "PAKISTAN". Please Keep the interest of the nation foremost you are to stand in front of Allah soon to answer your deeds in this world and please remember no big country will come to save you there.
@pakistani. ? What exactly should we Pakistanis be proud of? We should first of all protect our sovereinity and protect the lives of all our citizens regardless of religion caste or sect. The loss of a single life is a terrible event and hard questions need to be asked of the powers to be.Especially when so much time,effort is wasted on parades. These efforts are better served protecting our civilians from terrorists.
A well written article highlighting security deficiencies and proposing better communication between the services. We need to eradicate the ttb from our soil and give hard evidence of the india link if any.
what a lame effort .and azadi parade is held to celebrate our national day, to spread a sense of pride and patriotism.
how can you assume it is raw which is working with ttp ? .If one of the suicide bomber is captured ,he can be tortured to point to raw .Lets suppose it is indeed raw's objective to damage awacs in kamra ,why would they plan for just 9 terrorist and why not multiprong attack with back up reinforcements and voip phones with satellite guidance ? ..As a civilian I can design a plan like that and you are expecting Raw to execute this small attack via TTP to get mixed results ?
These type of attacks are complete agenda against the integrity of Pakistan. It's not about TTP many other superpowers are using the name of TTP to attack our country. And what we are doing against it is? NOTHING!
Ejaz Haider is pointing his finger at India. It is difficult to believe that RAW can collaborate with the TTP. However, I wish it were true, as we in India are under the impression that we do nothing to counter the terrorism and other nefarious activities Pakistan has been conducting in India for the last 50 years. VLRao
Well observed and written article. Now the pundits have started talking same in the media especially after this attack and the terrorist's motivation by attacking AWACs both in Mehran base and at Kamra. No wonder, Indians like "john" will call this article a mess when Indians plans are being relieved. The only country which is getting benefited after such attacks is India. I have been saying all the time that attacking with an explicit target in mind(awacs here) and with all the necessary logistics and brain behind it is indeed the work of an organized institution not some ones hiding in caves and running for their lives from drones all the time. There will be more such attacks in future and our forces should be more vigilant now. Good work by the base security but all such sensitive installations should be made secured well with in 2 kms surroundings.
Could it be the payback period of thousand-small-cuts policy of Pakistan adopted against India starting from armed support to Khalistan support then to Kashmir and still in NE states of India or the freezing start (pre-cold) strategy?
Even a novice in the art of mass media would know that the real target of TTP militants was Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircrafts. They were not even interested in the assembly line of JF Thunder aircraft being co-produced at Kamra. This attack is a rerun of a similar attack on Naval Air Base, Mehran where the target was P3C Orion aircraft used for Long Range Marine Patrol. The motive of the attack was to damage Pakistan’s sophisticated and expensive defense capabilities. TTP which claims to be fighting the occupation forces in Afghanistan are actually fighting to cripple Pakistan’s defense mechanism. And who should be behind these terrorists is not a million dollar question.
this article is a bitter truth... and Pakistan should look for the solution quickly...as time is running out.
The first part of this Piece spins a conspiracy theory and the second half bemoans parades. What is the point being made really?
This is the best article on the state of affairs of our miltary's preparedness to fight "Our own war". A must read. It also emphasizes the need for the formation of a new intelligence organization, for better coordination and efficacy of all the intelligence gathering agencies of the country, which in my opinion may be headed by a very capable and highly computer savvy YOUNG (not retired) civilian.
Though I don't like army/military policies, but I shall suggest them to appoint snipers at some unseen/inaccessible locations, so that in such scenario they can precisely shoot the invaders.
It is unfortunate that we do not learn lessons from the past occurrences in any of elements of armed forces. This must be given due priority in the shape of overcoming all expected weaknesses so that any attempt of infiltrators can be thwarted with full force. Periodical such exercises must be planned if not already in practice. All sensitive installations must have efficient patrolling system around their peripheries round the clock to detect any suspected movements as long as Pakistan is in the grip of "war on terror."
The Basic question is again lost..........Why do the Terrorist are interested in damaging the Air borne Eyes of Pakistan Defence, what purpose does this damage serve them, or is it on some ones' else agenda, and the TTP are just paid mercenary.........
Fully concur with Ejaz Haider. Army and Jawans and of course people of Pakistan must be bold to encounter Talibanization.
this is a complete mess of an article...