The Azm-e-Nau exercises, which started in 2009, were part of the Army’s new concept of war fighting. PHOTO: APP/FILE
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the war games were meant to operationalise new strategies against the evolving threat.
At the culmination of four years of war gaming and exercises, the Pakistan military has now adopted a ‘new concept of war fighting’ aimed at preempting India’s ‘Cold Start Doctrine,’ security officials said here.
The new concept seeks to improve troops’ mobilisation time and to put up a joint Army, Navy and Air Force response to any conventional threat.
The Azm-e-Nau exercises, which started in 2009, were part of the Army’s new concept of war fighting in response to India’s Pakistan specific Cold Start Doctrine.
The Cold Start doctrine is intended to allow India's conventional forces to perform holding swift and unexpected attacks in a manner before international pressure could come to bear on India and before the Pakistani military could react i.e. in under 72 hours.
The Indian military, however, publicly denies the existence of any such doctrine.
The military official said under the new concept, in case of war, the Pakistan Army could mobilise in far less time as compared to India.
Speaking at the conclusion of two-week long war games, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani sought people’s support to counter foreign military aggression against the country.
Kayani said military’s success hinges on being fully prepared, support of the people of Pakistan and other state institutions.
He also said the Army was fully committed to meet all future challenges squarely.
COMMENTS (112)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Pakistan Army Zinda Bad
@Yasin: "Why can’t we have a ‘Hot start doctrine’ against India? Then India will feel the real heat.". Sure you can provided you have the money to generate the heat. At the moment you are looking all over the world to finance budget deficit. Have you taken a look at your budget? A big chunk is put on the block for the foreign donors to pay for. Even the much wanted Nau excercises could happen only after US released CSF funds. That my dear friend is the reality. So wake up and stop mouthing fanciful phrases.
Why can't we have a 'Hot start doctrine' against India? Then India will feel the real heat.
First we need to win against taliban and other dozen rag tag armies in our own borders before facing a professional army.
That's for your protection dude@haider malik:
Unfortunately Pakistan army is always blamed for all the internal security problems.the job of army is to defend the borders.India is and will always remain our enemy numeber one.the defence budget of India is many times more than ours n there war machine is all deployed against us.so let's not fool ourselves.we should keep our vigil.why can't we ask our politians to reign in corruption.the money that is lot in corruption is more than our defence budget..heck the money we give in debt servicing is way more than our defence spending..so please..stop criticizing army for everything that happens..if some terrorist organization attacks a hospital at Quetta how is it army's fault..
@joy: "to all my Indian compatriots………..its Pakistanis money. Let them burn it the way they want it.They are ready to accept twenty hour power cuts every day and keep on harping about threats from India..so be it"
My dear friend, we would not care but from time to time this army gets complacent based on the toys it buys and then attacks India either using state or non-state actors. From the resulting mess there are adverse consequences for both countries. IT is for this reason and this reason alone that one would like Pakistanis to exercise better control over their army.
Our quick response is already tested and proven excellent back in 2000-2001when Indian moved 2xcrops infront of cholistan desert after self created attack on their lok saba.If our higher commanders behave properly and let everybody perform is duties as mentioned in war or peace orders nobody defeat Pakistan army.
@Naved Akhter: "Can’t they take the desert heat?" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Actually this equipment was designed for Siachin. Ok?
Indian government are not interested in grabbing the land of Pakistan or to destabilize/disintegrate Pakistan or to rule Pakistan but If Pakistan government infiltrates terrorists as in case of 26/11 in Mumbai and in Kashmir then Indian government may use cold start to destroy the terrorist training camps across the border.Indian government wants to improve Indian people's standards of living.There is no place for Jingoism in this modern world,weather it may be Indian or Pakistani Jingoism. No one in India wan'ts war with Pakistan only on certain cases as in case of 26/11 and Kashmir dispute which heightens tensions.I think India and Pakistan are responsible nuclear neighbors and they wouldn't wage a war ever.I think Pakistan should forget the Kashmir obsession, its good for Pakistan and should focus its attention towards bringing the economy back to normal and reducing internal terrorism and to maintain sectarian and ethnic harmony inside Pakistan.Pakistan should take some lessons from China and should have relations with India as China has though India and China has border disputes or other disputes we have a good trade relations with China which is leading to peaceful border between India and China.Pakistan should understand that India China border is greater than India Pakistan border and take lessons from China.
Wheres my comment!?!?
@Polpot: But Azme Nau4 is targeted against India since nothing can be done against the Taliban:)
I beg to differ; everything can be done against Taliban. But in the interest of strategic depth they want to sink into, a strategic decision has been taken to sell rotis, bread and run cinemas and marriage halls. These marriage halls and cinemas have the added benefit of being used as R&R (rest and recreation) areas for the strategic guests when needed.
@haider malik: So paying taxes is my duty so you can buy tanks? What are you smoking dude?
You underestimate the class of your military. With your taxes they also buy BMWs 7 series, education for their children in top foreign colleges and deluxe plots in DHA.
@Naresh: "Sir Jee they are Pakistan’s State Supported but “so-called” Non-State Actors." If it ever were, it is no longer the case since Pakistan's U-Turn after 9/11. Proof: These non-State actors have been attacking Pakistan's military, its posts, and installations. This is proof enough that they are not state supported but cannot be controlled by the State.
@Naved Akhter: Chinese weapons , needs protection from sand otherwise will stop working .
What kind of exercises are these wherein troops use carpet to sit on and tanks are covered with some type of blankets! Are we pampering our soldiers? Can't they take the desert heat?
@Aahjiz BayNawa: . You state : Without knowing the facts, it is easy to call a conclusion “stupid.” To punish Pakistan for what non-State actors, which itself have caused uncontrollable destruction in Pakistan, . Sir Jee they are Pakistan's State Supported but "so-called" Non-State Actors. . You also state : which itself have caused uncontrollable destruction in Pakistan . If your "Birdies come home to Roost then it is no use asking for India's Sympathy as they are Your Own Birdies Roosting on You. Pakistan's Army, Government, ISI as well as the Ordinary Pakistani who is Forced to Fill the Donation Boxes including but not limited to Money, Skins of Kurbani Animals etc. etc. . So please stop justifying Pakistan's inability to control its Pakistan's State created and Pakistan's State Supported but "so-called" Non-State Actors
Cheers
@FactCheck: Pakistan is not going anywhere, no matter how much it spends on defense. From unfair Partition (division of Muslim majority Punjab and Bengal) to India's invasion of Muslim majority Kashmir to reneging on plebiscite to dismemberment of Pakistan, India's attitude and warmongering and haughty attitude presses Pakistan to take defensive measures, no matter the cost. It is Pakistan's nuclear deterrent, which makes India "peace loving."
@Ranjit: Like Cold Start is working against the Naxal Freedom Fighters,dont mix apples with oranges.
@Baffled: then you should appeal US to stop playing ganes across the globe.US is the mother of all strife every where.
The revised Military Doctrine of the Pakistani Security Establishment is that the Taliban and not India constitute the primary threat. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ But Azme Nau4 is targeted against India since nothing can be done against the Taliban:)
@Beijing (of India): "I don’t think pakistan are capable of resisting from a massive indian attack".
Beijing, I don't think India is dared to launch a massive attack on Pakistan although they are capable.
@Aahjiz BayNawa:
Keep spending most of your GDP on the military and keep borrowing, Pakistan will become subservient on its own without anyone’s help.
Keep drinking the Kool Aid thought. There is only one thing, one thing only rest of the world is concerned about Pakistan and that is, terrorism and and terrorists coming out of there.
Don’t believe, just take look at the recent budget which expects to be met by borrowing from where no one knows.
In the meantime, keep shadow dancing with imaginary things.
there is no way there can be a war between India and Pakistan unless Pakistan's military generals carry out kargil-like misadventure and attack India once more. instead of these war games which undermine peaceful relations, they should practice how to stop attacks on India from Pakistani soil. that would be a much easier strategy of defence.
@Shiv: Without knowing the facts, it is easy to call a conclusion "stupid." To punish Pakistan for what non-State actors, which itself have caused uncontrollable destruction in Pakistan, such as for the attack on the Indian Parliament in Decembere 2011, India massed troops on Pak border to coerce it into submission but failed. See, for example: http://www.academia.edu/2437244/OperationParakramAnIndianExerciseInCoercive_Diplomacy Vajpayee triumphantly noted: “A challenge has been thrown to India and we accept. My arrival here is indicative of something. Whether our neighbours understand it or not, whether the world takes note or not, historians will recall that we wrote a new chapter of victory.” – Atal Bihari Vajpayee, March 22, 2002, Kupwara, IHK." See: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/columns/02-Jan-2012/failure-of-india-s-coercive-diplomacy
In May 2011, India launched Operation Vijayee Bhava ("Be Victorious"), again an example of coercive diplomacy. The Sunderji doctrine of seven defensive "holding corps" of the Indian Army and deployed near the Pakistani border, is an example of the India's Cold Start (military) doctrine although Indian authorities do not refer to it as such, not any more anyway. See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ColdStart(military_doctrine)
to all my Indian compatriots...........its Pakistanis money. Let them burn it the way they want it.They are ready to accept twenty hour power cuts every day and keep on harping about threats from India..so be it. Its their country and their priorities. We got better things to do in life.
People forget that in the past wars, it was always Pakistan which started them and, eventually, paid the price, the latest being Kargil. Pakistan seems to suffer from some 'obsessive' syndrome, imagining nightmares of war losses to India. Why blame India for this?
Poor countries rich armies
@B: and BLA and TTP get their money froooommmmm.....????
@Aahjiz BayNawa: That's pretty stupid a conclusion. India has neither the ability nor the desire do do so.
@Arijit Sharma.: Agreed 100%. In fact it is Indians now who have started seeing sense in the two nation theory. Indians have no desire to create trouble on its Western borders or for that matter do anything that would bring down Pakistan. Another few million Muslim refugees into India, and the Indians and India would be gone and done with. In fact the best way to solve the Kashmir probelm would be - take all the Muslims and take Kashmir as well. That would solve all the unfinished business of partition.
@TightPatloon:
Oh, what would you have done? Challenged USA? And then what? Bombed back to stoneage? No Thanks. Some countries you just cannot challenge.
@Beijing:
That is why we developed Nuclear capability
Calm down pakistani forces, India wont aggress. We are both nuclear nations with oversensitive populations. A war is not on. Lets fights internal threats like BLA, Pakistani Taliban and Maoists. We are better off tackling these problems first.
Time to put some more theories in air , so that Pakistan army can spend more money to counter these tactics . Good job by Indian Media !!!
Seems more like a warming up exercise for yet another Military rule in Pakistan.
Give it to Pakistan Cricket Team, So that another Edgebaston doesn't happen !!
Pakistan army's preempt may be improvement in US' war within Pakistan on the commandments of Pakistani worldly masters US' officials within Pakistan..........
@GIndian:
Assuming there is talent. Going by their win-loss record, I doubt it.
India puts a random thought on paper and Pakistan scampers to "counter" it by spending time and money. Smart move Indian army!
Pak army are only pre-empting cold common sense.
In today's situation India does not cares Pakistan much (as long as Pakistan does not trouble India), most of the Indians focus is on economic development. Its better Pakistanis to focus on their own country's development, surely India won't do any stupid things like attacking Pakistan. But if Pakistan does any stupid thing like Mumbai attack then the situation will change
Pakistan . LOL.
its like polishing a shoe that has no sole. What is encouraging is how many comments here seem to reflect that irony.
This is to frustrate any notions the new government may be harbouring to normalise with India.
@mehboobBhai: "Have some mercy on the countrymen. We don’t want to fight India or any other country! Lets live in peace. If we reduce our Armed forces and their budget, then will we be able to live in peace?" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As you have no doubt read the defence budget has been increased by 15 %.....now you will surely be victorious.....no doubt about that. Living in peace? oh there is no guarantee about that.
On a serious note I would recommend to Nawaz Sharif that ISPR should be dissolved immediately +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Army reports to the civilian Govt and any Press Releases it wants to issue must be cleared by the Civilian Govt.
It looks like Pakistan's army wants to stay busy at the expense of its tax paying citizens. When is the last time one of your neighbors started a war without your provocation?
@haider malik: "Our taxes need to be spent on us the people, on our education, health and welfare so people dont have to cry for their children’education or their mother’s expensive medication." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So you doubt? Pls read: the Army’s one-day spending is equivalent to the running year’s total allocation for education ministry, and the air-force’s per day expenditures far exceed what was allocated to the health ministry for running the financial year ending this month. Source:http://ipl.edu.pk/document/Pakistan_Army.pdf
Army is essential for survival of the fitness. Furthermore, I'm from the Pakistan. That is why my spelling and grammar are perfecs.
"Speaking at the conclusion of two-week long war games, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani sought people’s support to counter foreign military aggression against the country." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ eg Kargil...........!
"He also said the Army was fully committed to meet all future challenges squarely." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ah so this is a square start strategy....but the enemy is Circular.......Circular debt!
"He also said the Army was fully committed to meet all future challenges squarely." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As was so ably demonstrated at Abbottabad....where an honored guest was lost to enemy....
@aaaaa: "and now, after the successful completion of yet another pointless exercise, we will have no electricity shortages." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Such Courage and Sacrifice by the Army....such Tactical Brilliance....and all you can think of electricity? Sadly you are right!
To those who deny the existence of Cold Start +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Did u not see that 28 Pakistanis lost their lives in Quetta,,,a bus full of school girls burnt to carbon.... There is lots of cold start.....but not by Indians.
@Arijit Sharma.: “Does India have the desire to handle another 120 million MUSLIMS ?..” No! But following the doctrine of coercive diplomacy, India wants to teach Pakistan a lesson to make it subservient. Pakistan wants to pre-empt that. And, that is it!
@Usman Ahmad & all those who think such a doctrine doesn't exist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ColdStart(military_doctrine)
Ow please.. those who say that the amry is guzzling on national budget well.. sitting in ur cosy homes and facing so called poverty issues pleasee.. give the army a break.. give urself a break.. India being the prime foe will remain as such.. try to detoxicate urself from the media spider web that the indians have carefully woven in our minds.. bollywood is all gash and money... they dont show the poor and badly ridden india.. lol. even the streets of bollywood are washed so that the persistant dirt cannot be seen.. Wake up Pakistanis..
@Asad Malik: So if the ISI is one of the most successful intelligence agencies in the world, why is it not ale to anticipate and prevent the almost daily bomb blasts that occur?
What do army people do on a work day? They just get bored form doing nothing and come up with imaginary enemies. Without war or conlflicts, army people are virtually unemployed. What a waste of human talent.
All these exercises, so that's why Sunday was so noisy:)
Why does Pakistan continue to support a military machine (that often falters), is a financial burden consuming the lion's share of the budget and is antagonistic to neighbouring countries?
So paying taxes is my duty so you can buy tanks? What are you smoking dude?
/Paying sales tax is a duty and you are not doing favour to anybody.Get out ,find some work and feed your household.and stop crying//
@Irfank
Looks like your Colonel daddy is taking you to Shangrila Military Resorts every year. Our taxes need to be spent on us the people, on our education, health and welfare so people dont have to cry for their children'education or their mother's expensive medication. Our taxes must not be wasted on some goddamn juvenile war games or on pointlessly buying tanks and missiles. War will kill us all. Have mercy on your children and us people.
so you're going to spend more of your scarce resources while the jihadis run wild in your own country..
brilliant...
This is ridiculous. We have big and small nukes that will deter any big or small Indian misadventure what we really need is internal security. Pakistan Army is full of duffers.
Not forgetting that pakistan has invited all wars upon itself in the past; so I have no clue what preparedness really means here eh?
India's cold turkey will never start.
all those illiterates who say that there is/was nothing known as "Cold Start Doctrine",,, are requested to read 2003 editions of "Indian Defence Review" or the articles by Bhart Varma. n yes,,, i agree with few readers, that, Gen Kiyani has failed to ensure smooth supply of electricity
@M Ali Khan: Done with "Strategic Depth"? Now on to a new adventure. Do you realize how absurd all this sounds? The taliban are giving the army a licking and what it is preparing for is to counter Cold Start. When India embarked on Cold Start, it had its entire economy to support it. When Pakistan is looking to counter Cold Start, all it holds is a bowl, with now sight of the alms. Wouldn't it be infinitely more sensible to invite Indian investment into Pakistan, develop Indian interests in maintaining peace with Pakistan and reap the rewards of those investment? But alas, all that needs smart people to devise and execute. Something that the jackboots are totally incapable of. And the folks holding the can of this new toys for the boys will be the people of Pakistan. What a pity!
This is a joke for the comic relief of the nation. To fight any war, Pakistan will have to first apply for an IMF loan. Now war for what ? No country will take any part of pakistan, even if donated.
@Baffled:
"India ,Afghanistan ,Angola , Mauritania are of secondary importance to me . I have a hungry wife and two kids to feed first .An ailing mother to be provided with out-of-reach Angrezi medicines .The oldest kid needs schooling Who will set the priorities ? "
I feel you. Unfortunately for you, your priorities have been set a long time ago by your leaders. They have said "Pakistan will eat grass in order to get nuclear weapons and keep India bleeding through 1000 cuts in a 1000 year war. Kashmir is in our blood"
With that kind of priorities that were chosen for you by your leaders, it is too late to be complaining.
@Syed A. Mateen:
Why behind them; and not join them? It is your country too.
Rex Minor
@arian bora: Writing slang does not make you intelligent.
Instead of focussing on the so called enemy who has never started a war with you, why don't you come up with.a new improved strategy to deal with the enemy who has killed 50000 of your citizens, who does not accept your constitution and rejects democracy? You are not faring too well in that war you know.
Pakistan should forget army. Pakistan can be protected without army. Actually we do not need army.
@Beijing: I dont think Pakistan needs to & The answer to your question is NUKES! So Relax!! & Get out of this Pak-Ind War Phobia :D Move On!! PEACE
sorry to bust your bubble. but where was your preempt team on OBL kill day?
@Khurram The Muhajir: " ... Waiting for the sailaab of Indian comments ... "
Sure, here goes. Assume that India ACTUALLY has something called the Cold Start Doctrine. And lets assume that sometime in the future there is a conflict and India is actually able to achieve the goals spelt out in the Doctrine.
What after that ? Does India have the desire to handle another 120 million MUSLIMS ? No !! Not even Indian Muslims would want that.
India's cold start strategy is to divert Pakistan army resources for a non-existent fantasy, while the real job is done thru TTP and BLA, against who Pak army has only one strategy, surrender.
No electricity. Cost of living beyond control. Every where human rights abuse. Internal situation in chios. Doctrine to fight India. What for. Who is being fooled?
@baffled Paying sales tax is a duty and you are not doing favour to anybody.Get out ,find some work and feed your household.and stop crying
The ISI is one of the most successful intelligence agencies in the world. If it says it exists, chances are it does. It's pretty obvious India would deny any such Pakistan specific doctrine.
Nice try by Pakistan government to get attention of Pakistani citizens away from suicide bombings. Pakistan needs to deal with terrorists who are terrorizing minorities including Ahmadis and Shias. I am surprised Some Shias are not ready to accept Ahmadis as equals even after they are being targeted by Sunnis.
Pak military should stop this shadow boxing with India as nothing useful shall be achieved keeping their past performances. They should instead concentrate to win the internal war against TTP on which they are on the losing side as forty-thousand innocent civilian lives have been lost and still counting.
@Jat: Da real problem, da real enemy of pakistan is lying within da borders...eforts are to be sifted to right directions...v are al brothers from different mother bt same father....need to act smart and work for humanity...we love pakistan...and its good people....our generation never holds hatrate for pakistan...coz it wont help ehthe...pakisthan should be encouraged to fight terrorism...and india should fund its coz...and help for its coz...apne he apno ka dard samaj sakte hai...jai pakistan...jai bharat....
I think the reporter needs to do a bit of research before filing such reports as Cold Start is not some fantasy but a reality on which Indian Army started working since 2001 escalation of forces. Formal presentations on this started in Indian Army from 2003 on wards. Indian Army has already carried out war-gaming and field exercises on this concept with and without troops. All data is available on internet and even Indian Army has started building forward cantonments which is an important aspect of this strategy. If some people wants to live in their self created fallacies regarding India then no one can help them, not even God. For details of Cold Start Strategy just google and you will have it all.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince he doesn't exist. Obviously they wont accept this doctrine however their capabilities and build up on the border seems to suggest otherwise. This missile is immaterial as the games were virtually played but never on ground.
We saw the repsonse in action last week when 2 Indian fighters entered the airspace, Similar response was observed couple of years back in Abbotabad
Wonderful. COAS is again using 'India" to fostering the public so that they can forget its losses, not only its wars with India but alos OBL, Drones and not controlling TPP and BLA. Kudos Pakistanis. Keep on living in the Land of the Denial.
India? I thought it was Taliban who are killing us daily. Where are our priorities?
and now, after the successful completion of yet another pointless exercise, we will have no electricity shortages.
I don't think pakistan are capable of resisting from a massive indian attack.
Have some mercy on the countrymen. We don't want to fight India or any other country! Lets live in peace.
If we reduce our Armed forces and their budget, then will we be able to live in peace?
@Usman Ahmad:
a doctrine which India backtracked from you mean. Cold Start existed all right, just that it was an Indian Army enterprise in wake of their failed 2002 mobilisation and something which the Indian Navy and IAF were not taken on board.
i would encourage more thorough study on these matters rather than merely going around the popular press reports.
How will this work; by selling more bread, by dividing more spoils in the form of plots and by hunkering down further into your bunkers and leaving common people undefended ?
What is the score ? Terrorists 50,000 Pak Army 20
We are with u gen kayani sahib. god bless Pakistan and its arm forces.
Waiting for the sailaab of Indian comments
In the picture that seems to be heat seeking missile .Who cares . I am paying Sales tax through the nose on the foods I am purchasing. The question is, are those missiles Sales Tax exempted ?
India ,Afghanistan ,Angola , Mauritania are of secondary importance to me . I have a hungry wife and two kids to feed first .An ailing mother to be provided with out-of-reach Angrezi medicines .The oldest kid needs schooling .
Who will set the priorities ?
Hope this doctrine works out against TTP and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi as well.......
lets first take care of the "hot start" by BLA ...
The entire nation is standing behind Armed Forces of Pakistan to defend our beloved motherland "PAKISTAN"
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
There is no foreign military aggression on any Pakistani borders except imaginary creation to poke into civilian control, Please control Balochistan and internal borders and reduce military budget for the consumption of general public. If our military can't control inside Pakistani borders and terrorists can rule without any fear then forget foreign aggression, we already have lost one wing of our country and on the verge of (God Forbids) losing more.
preempted a doctrine which doesn't exist..good! We are already fighting ghosts in our tribal areas.