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Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Defense on September 8th, 2012
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The Spirit of 6th September |
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| 6th of September is celebrated each year as the Defence of Pakistan Day. It was on this day in 1965, that India launched her forces and attacked Pakistan across the international border without a warning or a declaration of war. this action of India, which claims to be the largest democracy in the World, was in utter violation of International law, charter of the United Nations and norms of civilized behavior among states. India arrogantly swept aside her international commitments in her desire to subjugate the region.
Even after a lapse of 34 years when a new generation in Pakistan are the decision makers, the memory of IndiaÕs treachery is vivid and uncompromising. At dawn on 6th September Indian forces crossed the border, pushed back the Pakistan Rangers and advanced towards Lahore on two axis. The Indian Army Chief, Gen. J. N. Chaudhry was so confident of defeating the Pakistani troops guarding the area and capturing Lahore that he announced to all and sundry that he would have a large peg of whisky at the Lahore Gymkhana Club in the evening of the 6th. He had reason to be confident as he was known in India as the Òconqueror of Hyderabad in DeccanÓ. It was 17 years earlier that Gen Chaudhry had attacked the princely state of Hyderabad in Deccan, at the head of an armoured division. This was part of IndiaÔs multi-pronged attack by three divisions, inspite of a stand-still agreement that India had signed with the state. But NehruÕs (First Prime Minister of India) new-India had started to proclaim that her agreements and commitments national and international could be violated at will to suit her purpose. IndiaÕs attack against Lahore was held and beaten back with heavy losses to the attackers. The Pakistan Army units defending on the ground, supported by the Pakistan Air Force were able to blunt the Indian offensive and roll it back. Two days later on 8th September India launched its main attack against Sialkot using its armoured division and other strike formations. What ensued has been described as the largest tank battle since the second World War. It was a hard and bitter struggle fought over many days and nightÕs resulting in casualties on both sides. In the end the Indian main attack was held and severely mauled. Its armoured division was force to withdraw owing to very high losses in men and material. South of Lahore, Pakistan launched its own counter attack and captured IndiaÕs Khem Karan and beyond. This posed a serious threat to the rear of Indian troops facing Lahore. In the South Pakistan took the initiative to push back Indian troops and enter Indian territory. During the operations India captured about 400 square miles of Pakistan territory but lost around 1600 square miles of its own to Pakistan. The war ended with the mediation effort of the USSR and a peace agreement was signed at Tashkent. During the 1965 war every citizen of the country was solidly united behind the government, although it was a military one, of Field Marshal Ayub Khan. The national priorities were clear and unambiguous in those days, any danger to the country called for unity and unstinted support to the government and the armed forces. There was no question of any political party or leader taking advantage of the war to berate the government for political or personal gain. This came much later when President AyubÕs health suffered a set back and personal ambitions of those he had brought into prominence came to the fore. Pakistan emerged from the September 1965 war with India, a strong and self-confident nation, proud of itself and its armed forces. It was a nation that was united in facing the danger from India. National unity and full support for the armed forces in the field is essential for success in war. With the nationÕs support the Armed Forces of Pakistan repulsed IndiaÔs naked aggression across the international border and made her pay a price for it by capturing four times more territory than India and forcing her to accept a ceasefire, return to the negotiating table and to vacate each others territory. It was certainly their finest hour of glory and a day to be remembered by future generations of soldiers and civilians. After the September 1965 Indo-Pakistan war and the Tashkent Agreement Pakistan relaxed, as peace had been restored. But India prepared anew and six years later in 1971 again attacked across the international border, this time in the Eastern Wing of the country and succeeded in dismembering Pakistan while the World and the United Nations stood by and watched. India has consistently used force as an instrument of her foreign and domestic policy against all her neighbours including China, and internally against her own small states and occupied Kashmir to the detriment of her religious and ethnic minorities. This has been reflected by all the main Human Rights organizations of the World. Recently the New York based Human Rights Watch released its report condemning India for its atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir. This was released during the Kargil fighting a few months back. This year we celebrate Defence of Pakistan Day after the recent fighting in Indian occupied Kashmir near Kargil. There has been some criticism within the country of the governmentÕs handling of the situation particularly of the Prime MinisterÕs visit to Washington. Unfortunately all the criticism emanates by and large from those political parties in opposition to the government and as such the credibility of their arguments is reduced to that extent. Some writings have appeared, particularly in the English press who fail to understand the Kashmir issue in its proper perspective and there are others who may well be inspired from within or without for reasons better known to them. Kargil has added a new chapter to the Kashmiris 52 years old struggle for emancipation from the suppressive and brutal Indian rule. They have demonstrated their ability to force a decision on Kashmir. Any form of status quo is not acceptable to them any more. It is the opinion of neutral experts at home and abroad that the Kashmir dispute cannot be forced back into cold storage again in view of the determination to fight and die as shown by a few hundred Kashmiris on the outskirts of Kargil under the shadow of a larger conflict. It should now be the concern of the World community to find a solution to the Kashmir dispute under a democratic process, of the will of the people of Kashmir. During the Kargil conflict the Pakistani troops deployed on the Line of Control in the area came under constant Indian pressure and repeated attacks. They gave a good account of themselves and many were killed defending the frontiers of Pakistan and the honour of their homeland. They fought with great determination and courage blunting and repulsing every enemy attack with considerable losses to the Indians. Pakistan Army COAS has recently mentioned Indian Army losses at about 1700 killed and therefore 3 to 4 times that number wounded. The officers and men of the Pakistan Army and para-military forces fought with the spirit of the September 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, and should be included in our prayers on the 6th of September alongwith all those officers and men of the Forces killed in action since 1948. The 6th of September should also be a day of thanksgiving. We should all pray for the safety and solidarity of Pakistan and also that God gives us the strength, courage and determination, to protect and safeguard at all costs, the freedom and honour of our homeland.
Our Thanks: http://www.defencejournal.com/sept99/spirit-6thsept.htm http://sachiidosti.com/forum/miscellaneous/50913-spirit-6th-september.html |
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Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Our Heroes on September 8th, 2012
The Father of the Nation rightly remarked on 13 April 1948, while addressing a small band of enthusiastic airmen at the fledging nation’s Air Force Flying School:
A country without a strong Air Force is at the mercy of any aggressor; Pakistan must build up her airforce as quickly as possible. It must be an efficient air force, second to none.
The table below gives an idea of the number of aircraft allotted to Pakistan and the number initially given.:
| Aircraft | RIAF Total Holding | Allotted to India | Delivered to Pakistan |
| Dakota | 78 | 46 | 4 |
| Tempest | 158 | 123 | 16 |
| Harvard | 118 | 89 | – |
| Tiger Moth | 78 | 62 | 7 |
| Auster | 28 | 18 | – |
The Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was very well aware of the great importance of the Air Force for the defence of the country. He, therefore, wanted a strong Air Force to be built up, which was to be second to none. This was done against great odds at the time of partition of the sub-continent, when the Pakistan Air Force came into being on 14 August 1947 along with the Army and the Navy. The PAF after undergoing immense struggle and sacrifice with a small number of personnel, possessing an insufficient equipment emerged into a powerful component of the country’s defence into a brief period of 10 years. At the time of partition, India deprived Pakistan of her due share of aircraft and equipment.
Limited War of 1947. These aircraft were quickly organized into two squadrons (No.5 and No.9). While the Air Force was being organized, the armed struggle in Kashmir started in December 1947. In 1947 and 1948 the IAF provided direct support to the Indian Army, bombed Murree, attacked the Kohala Bridge several times and an unarmed PAF transport. The PAF role in Kashmir was transport support there was an urgent need to drop air supplies for the civilian population of Gilgit and other areas of Gilgit. This was arranged on a priority basis by the two Dakota aircraft, later another two were added. In 1948, two four engine Halifax bombers were also acquired for airdrops. During 12 months of emergency airdrop operations the PAF did not lose a single aircraft. 437 sorties had been flown and over a million lbs of supplies dropped at Bunji, Sikardu, Gilgit and Chilas. Despite the IAF fighter activity, the PAF continued air transport operations but limited them to moonlit nights. Our fighters remained employed on “watch and ward” in the NWFP. An unarmed Fury while engaged in leaflet dropping over a hostile area, was fired upon with a light machine gun. The aircraft sustained some damage but the pilot landed safely at Miranshah, where he quickly took another Fury, this one bristling with weapons and went back to even the score in another sequence — Exemplary action — the RPAF — flew 139 sorties in which 72 bombs, 108 rockets and 4,600 rounds of 20mm ammunition were expanded. The 500-lb high explosive bombs proved useful against mountain hideouts and mudhouses. This employment was termed as heaven on earth. The PAF was a circus outfit and it performed many air displays, always very good ones. During the 1948 Kashmir war, the strength of Pakistan Air Force as compared to the Indian Air Force was as under:
| Aircraft | India | Pakistan |
| Tempest | 68 | 16 |
| Dakota | 30 | 8 |
| Harvard | 60 | 20 |
| Tiger Moth | 40 | 10 |
| Vampire | 6 | _ |
| Liberator | 4 | _ |
| Spitfire | 13 | _ |
The Air Force role was defined rightly by the Air Vice-Marshal R.L.R Atcherley when he took over the command of the PAF. He said: The sole preoccupation of every individual in this Air Force, no matter in what sphere of activity he finds himself, is to keep our aircraft flying, ready to fight, equipped and trained for war, down to the last detail.
The Air Force was already going along a well-conceived plan. The target given for March 31, 1948 was for two fighter bomber squadrons of 16 aircraft, one transport squadron of five aircraft and one air observation post (AOP) flight of four aircraft. Gradually the Air Force expanded in the air and also made a progress in the ground facilities. In August 1951, three jet fighter aircraft were assimilated into No. 11 Squadron. With their induction, the young PAF entered into the jet age
Air Vice Marshal Atcherley was of the firm opinion that the Pakistan Air Force should first take on the enemy Air Force, and then try to isolate the battlefield and after that give direct support to the ground forces. By 1959/60 the PAF was fully trained and competent in the use of its aircraft. The first conflict between the IAF and the PAF took place on Eid day April 10, 1959, when an Indian Air Force Canberra (R.P) entered Pakistan’s airspace flying at over 50,000 ft, well above our newly acquired F-86 Sabre aircraft’s capability. But the Indian Canberra was shot down by the sustained effort of the enthusiastic Pakistan Air Force. In 1959, the last, all PAF exercise “JANUS” was held. Little or no training was conducted with the Army and Navy. The PAF did train with the USAF, RAF, Turkish and Iranian Air Forces who visited Pakistan regularly. Watch and ward continued in Dir, Bajaur, Kalat and the downing of the IAF Photo Recce (PR) Canberra were added to the PAF’s battle honours.
A strong Air Force that was built up with the hard work and dedication of its officers and airmen helped to defend the country in the two major wars with India. Pakistan had a much smaller Air Force, yet it was able to dominate the much larger Air Force of our adversary.
The 1965 War. When war broke up in 1965, the Pakistan Army was deployed against the Indians in the Rann of Kutch. To make matters worse, the Pakistani C-in-C was in Bangkok attending a SEATO meeting. In addition, we had three war plans, war against India, war against Afghanistan and the third war against both India and Afghanistan. The alert phase was also — ’total’, either you were on peace or on full alert. The war plans had no provision for limited action. There was a great demand for security, since the previous Director Plans had been court-martialled, and some of the officers were summarily retired. At this crucial time, the PAF was able to put down the much larger Indian Air Force on the defensive and gained air superiority in four days. It inflicted heavy unacceptable casuallities on the Indian tanks, vehicles and troops. A newspaper wrote:
The performance of the PAF was excellent as they gained complete victory in the air. The IAF was defeated in all spheres — man to man, machine to machine, mission to mission and sector to sector.
Towards the middle of August 1965, the Army sent an SOS that the Gibralter Force was in trouble and required immediate air drops of food and ammunition. It was decided that a C130 carry out a night drop. The weather was terrible, rain, low clouds yet the mission flew and satisfactory results were achieved. Air Force Forward Headquarters were activated on 30th August. According to Asghar Khan: “It is true that the PAF’s primary role, in essence, is to assist the Army in every possible way to achieve its objectives. But in order to be able to do this the PAF must achieve a high degree of air superiority over the land battle areas, and it must be equipped to do this effectively. The Army seldom understood or recognized this precondition.”
The Air Force according to the war plan attacked the IAF forward bases on the opening day of the war in West Pakistan. Air action in East Pakistan was delayed to the second day since a dusk strike was anticipated. The plan included a single F104 conducting a “recce” over Halwara, followed by F86s, attacking “guns only” Halwara, Adampur, Pathankot and the various forward radars in the north, with T33s in the South, followed by all available B57’s after sunset.
After attacking the Indians on the 6th, the Air Force expected retaliation by the IAF on the 7th. No effort was made to launch dawn strikes, instead the PAF requested the Army to launch paratroopers against the IAF forward bases on the night 6/ 7th. Three companies of SSG were launched.
The decision to launch SSG Special Service Group was taken late on the 6th; they left without maps, proper briefing and worst of all with no planning or preparation! The results were disastrous, only a handful returned, most of them were captured or killed. Every PAF base in Pakistan experienced Indian commando attacks and in their defence thousands of rounds of small arms ammunition was expended at imaginary commandos and the SSG were summoned to save Sargodha.
The operational statistics for 1965 are as under:
|
Sorties |
% Effort |
|
| Air Defence | 1,303 | 55% |
| Army / Navy | 647 | 27% |
| Day Strike | 100 | 4% |
| Night Strike | 165 | 7% |
| Photo / Recce | 148 | 6% |
To attack the close concentration of enemy airfields in the north, and to remain out of reach of the Indian fighter bombers; the bomber wing remained on the hop throughout the war. The pattern often repeated was to set off from home base, strike inside Indian territory, recover to another base to rearm and refuel, and then to strike again before returning to base or to another safe airfield. This enabled them to be prepared to attack their targets night after night. By arriving over their targets in a stream at intervals of about fifteen minutes, the B-57 certainly succeeded, disregarding even the actual damage they inflicted, in achieving a major disruption of the overall IAF effort, disabling their optimum attack capability the next morning. The effect on morale of the IAF personnel was devastating. The effect of fatigue caused to them was most pronounced on their air and ground crew while they were forced to keep shuttling in and out of air raid shelters and trenches. This made the task of PAF fighter pilots that much easier to fight them in air the next morning.
Of its 22 B57s, which fought the war PAF lost three, only one due to enemy action. After the first strike on Jamnagar at 6pm, the bombing shuttle was maintained all night by single sorties. One such lone bomber flown by squadron leaders Shabbir Alam Siddiqui and Alam Qureshi, the navigator was doing its third mission in less than 9 hours. As an overfatigued crew descended lower on the pinpoint its target, the bomber hit the ground and exploded. The second bomber was lost as a result of enemy anti-aircraft fire on 14th September. The third B57, piloted by Flight Lieutenants MA Butt and ASZ Khalid was lost in the early hours of 17th September. While making an approach to land at Risalpur, the B57 encountered adverse weather in the shape of strong wind sheer coupled with reduced flight visibility. Unable to maintain height, the aircraft crashed south of the runway, instantly killing both pilot and navigator.
The PAF’s B57 campaign came to an end with a close support mission during the night of 22nd September by four B57s which dropped 28,000 lbs of bombs on enemy artillery and tank concentrations at Atari. Large enemy reinforcements had been seen that day moving towards Atari for a possible assault on the salient eastern bank of the BRB canal. It was the task of the PAF to prevent these reinforcements from reaching their destination. The bombs from the B57s dropped in train engulfed the enemy armour and other vehicles concealed under the trees and in the bushes. Very few survived to reach Atari.
After the 1965 war, the B57 Squadrons trained hard to achieve even higher standards in the light of lessons learned in the war.
After the end of the 1965 war, the United States placed an embargo on our purchase of new equipment. New aircraft of Chinese (MIG-19) and French (Mirage) origin were inducted into the Air Force and quickly integrated.
The 1971 War. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the Pakistan Air Force put up a gallant flight destroying and damaging over 150 Indian aircraft. The Indian Air Force which was at that time expanded to become the fifth largest Air Force in the world was prevented from gaining any form of superiority over Pakistan’s airspace, even after shifting the air element operating against East Pakistan to support operations against West Pakistan, when the Dhaka airstrip had been permanently put down of action. Perhaps this was the main reason why India did not pursue her land operations against West Pakistan after the fall of Dhaka, although the Indian desire was to finish both wings of Pakistan.
The B57 force of PAF gave its very best in 1971 war. Of the available strength of 16 B57s at the outset of the war, 15 were launched the very first night as a follow up to the pre-emptive strike on the 3rd December. 12 IAF runways were targeted the first night and a total of 183 bombs were dropped. Although no immediate assessment of the damage was available, yet confirmation came much after the war from a very unlikely source. Air Chief Marshall PC Lal, the Chief of IAF during the 1971 war, in his memoirs titled My Days with the IAF provides full detail of the destruction caused by PAF, naming every IAF airfield attacked.
The PAF’s night bombing campaign was continued with good effect throughout the war and reflected great credit upon the courage and perseverance of the B57 crew, six of whom embraced Shahadat over enemy airfields.
A serious situation developed in the South when Indian ground forces penetrated along the Khokhrapar-Chor railway line upto Umerkot and Chachro and to Nagar Parkar itself. PAF was called upon to blunt its attack and prevent the enemy further advance in land. B57 from No 7 Squadron were also pressed into daring daylight raids to save Hyderabad from falling into enemy hands. F86s and F104s provided top cover. The armed reconnaissance and interdiction mission achieved the destruction of enemy trains and this virtually choked the flow of supplies vital to the enemy advance. Emboldened by their success, the B57 crew followed their bombing attacks by several strafing runs on the freight wagons and stopped the enemy dead in his tracks forcing him to abandon his planned offensive.
The PAF provided air support to the Navy at Karachi, on a report from a PIA aircraft flying reconnaissance for the Navy, the morning CAP (combat air patrol) at Masroor was asked to investigate, the result was that the PNS Zulfiqar took 900 hits of point 5 inch ammo killing several officers and men, with many more injured.
The operating statistics of 1971 war are as under:
|
Sorties |
% Effort |
|
| Air Defence | 1,748 | 58% |
| Army/Navy support | 951 | 32% |
| Day Strike | 160 | 5% |
| Night Strike | 130 | 4% |
| Photo/ Recce | 38 | 1% |
PAF, however, did recognize the services of its bomber crew in both the wars. As a tribute to PAF’s B57 crew who valiantly faced the highest loss rate of the war and persisted doggedly each night, and its navigators who, despite their rudimentary bomb aiming devices and the difficulty of map reading at low level on pitch dark nights, carried the war deep into the enemy’s heartland. The Government of Pakistan awarded 15 Sitara-e-Jurrats (6 posthumous) and 2 posthumous Tamgha-e-Jurrats to B57 pilots and navigators.
Recommendations for the Future. India continues to enlarge her Armed Forces by purchasing and producing new equipment possessing the latest technology available at home and abroad. This is most dangerous for us as India’s overall aim of destroying Pakistan as an independent entity remains. In this regional scenario, the Pakistan Air Force is getting a bit out of date, urgently requiring the induction of new aircraft. The Pakistani nation must know that if we want a strong and viable defence, we should be prepared to pay for it. The requirements of the Air Force are urgent and genuine and must be catered for by those who are in power and for those who are in the government responsible for the nation’s defence and well-being. The Pakistani government and nation must locate and expose those elements home and abroad who make endless efforts to see that our defence capability is slowly eroded.
Historically, the PAF except for a very short period in 1965, performed well below the required. It is a relatively small force, the support that it can provide to the Army and Navy must be its main role. But unfortunately, the PAF has not been provided with such assistance as necessarily required. Because the PAF role remains a debate. It should assist the Army and the Navy and not fight its own war. Whereas, the three services must fight the same war and not their own separate battles.
For the last few years there is a debate on buying a very expensive weapons system for the Air Force because of the “Fighter Gap”. It is also being debated that whether this system to be used to defend the fighter establishment, defend Pakistan or just another gimmick for the kickbacks. According to a report, India had as many as 232 high tech aircraft as opposed to the 32 F16s of the Pakistan Air Force. Since the role of the PAF is a pivotal one, Pakistan must do something as the Air Force was losing some seven to eight aircraft every year on account of phasing out and partly because of attrition. According to Air Chief Marshall Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi, “The growing technological disparity between the Indian and Pakistan Air Forces has now assumed “acute proportions”. Referring to the addition of sophisticated aircraft to the IAF and the inability of the PAF to come up with a matching response, Air Marshall Mehdi Qureshi said: “If this widening technological disparity between India and Pakistan is not plugged or narrowed down within the next 36 to 48 months, it would pose a direct threat to national security”. Perhaps this could be called a ‘Fighter Gap’. As the “Fighter Gap” does not relate to technology and numerical disparity but to the organization, employment and training. Therefore, it should be seriously taken into consideration by the higher authorities.
The absolute necessity for the PAF is to concentrate mainly on the destruction of the enemy tanks and to cause damage to the enemy’s capabilities and to provide direct as well as indirect support to its Armed Forces.
The small Pakistan Air Force should be trained primarily for the support of the Pakistani Army, Navy and it should be equipped to come up with this task with suitable aircraft. The Army/Air and the Navy/Air cooperation should be perfected, especially as regards to recce, the production of the airpower enhancement and the direct support of the Air Force conjunction with Artillery should be directed in the destruction of the enemy tanks. The direct tactical support of the Army attacks on enemy’s ammunition and supply convoys should be studied.
Historical factors reveal that the Pakistan Army has shown concern and assistance in the development of the Pakistan Air Force on the right line.
With the arrival of American equipment the PAF entered into an important phase in its development. It is often not appreciated that reasonably modern equipment is essential for all the three companies of the Armed Forces, but for the Air Force it is absolutely vital.
In the recent years, however, there has been a weakening of our governments resolve to adequately strengthen the Pakistan Air Force, as the Quaid had directed. If the present policy continues it will place the country “at the mercy of an aggressor”. as the Quaid had rightly said. In our case the aggressor is our neighbour India with whom we have fought three wars and two border conflicts short of war. An immense shooting war continues at present in Kashmir where the troops are deployed since the last more than 50 years on both sides of the ceasefire line or LOC (Line of Control) and also in the Siachin Glacier area which is the world’s highest and most destructive battle ground. Only after 24 years of its independence, India split Pakistan into two pieces by use of force, while the UN watched in silence. The freedom struggle of the poor Kashmiris continues even today. Kashmiris are being raped, killed, tortured while the world community watches in silence. At this crucial time when the fate of Kashmiris remains undecided, can we afford to lower our guards under the circumstances is the burning question of the day. The answer is obviously NO. Therefore, Pakistan must continue her efforts to build up her Air Force whether equipment, manpower, aircraft as quickly as possible in order to lower the already existing FIGHTER GAP between Pakistan and her biggest and numerically much larger adversary, India.
Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Pakistan's Hall of Shame on September 7th, 2012
Capital suggestion
Are we doomed? Ayn Rand, a Russian-American philosopher, has prescribed four easy to use and apply tests:Test 1: Do you see rupees flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favours?
Test 2: Do you see Pakistanis getting richer by graft rather than hard work?
Test 3: Do you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice?
Test 4: Do you see Pakistani laws protecting the looters not the looted?
Are rupees flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favours? Consider Rental Power Projects (RPPs), for instance. The Ministry of Water and Power, Government of Pakistan, mysteriously jacks up the down-payment amount from 7 percent to 14 percent for a total of 9 RPPs. The Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan, doles out Rs8.7 billion to Bhikki RPP. The Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan, doles out Rs13.9 billion to Sharaqpur RPP. Imagine; Pakistan Power Resources is paid $14.58 million but the plant has not produced a single watt of electricity. Public money, private greed.
Are Pakistanis getting richer by graft rather than hard work? Imagine; an enemy of our minister of commerce deposited a wholesome Rs40 million into the minister’s bank account without the minister’s knowledge – with enemies like these who needs friends. Embezzlement at OGRA has reportedly caused an extra load of Rs36.50 billion on consumers. The Supreme Court has directed the FIA to recover the looted amount of Rs420 million in the National Insurance Company corruption case. Pakistan Steel, on average, has been losing Rs25 billion a year. Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, during a suo motto hearing, gave the following breakdown: Rs9.99 billion due to corrupt practices, Rs4.68 billion as business loss and Rs11.48 billion due to mismanagement.
Is corruption being rewarded? On March 31, 2008, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was made the Federal Minister for Water and Power. On March 31, 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared all RPPs illegal. In April 2012, NAB wrote a letter to the Ministry of Interior to place Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s name on the Exit Control List. On June 22, 2012, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was made the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Are Pakistani laws protecting the looters not the looted? Imagine; the single largest pool of capital in the Budget is the Rs873 billion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Now imagine that a PML-Q MPA was promised Rs. 650 million out of the PSDP to vote for a PPP candidate for the Senate of the Islamic Republic. More recently, a group of PPP MNAs requested the President of Pakistan to give them each Rs100 million for the upcoming election.
For the record, the rent-a-crowd contractors are now charging Rs1,500 a head, Rs15 million for a crowd of 10,000. Ayn Rand called them “looter-by-law”.
The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: [email protected]
Reference
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-129607-Looters-by-law
Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in India on September 6th, 2012
BACKGROUND: Afghanistan has become of significant interest to policy makers in Tel Aviv for many reasons. As Israel continues to develop its role in Central Asia, several of Tel Aviv’s new allies and partners in the region have similar concerns when it comes to Afghanistan. In cementing its ties with these new partners, Israel has been keen to cooperate in matters of mutual concern while simultaneously advancing its national interests. Turkey, China, Russia, and India, as well as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan have come to view Afghanistan as the center of regional instability. The ruling Taliban regime have turned their nation into the leading source of illicit narcotics, and the primary supporter and operational base for Islamic militants intent upon destabilizing great swaths of Eurasia.
Over the last several years the State of Israel has established and maintained significant contacts with both sides in Afghanistan’s civil war. The Israeli press has previously reported on contacts between Tel Aviv and the Taliban, and the Rabbani-led Northern Alliance government. Reports in Yediot Aharonot, Ha’aretz, and Ma’ariv have all detailed meetings between the Israeli government – including the Foreign Ministry, Mossad, and other aspects of Israel’s state security apparatus – and representatives from the various Afghan factions across Europe, and even in Israel proper. Similar stories have also run in the Arabic and Persian press. In 1998, the Taliban accepted over 15 tons of Israeli relief supplies for the devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan.
Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad and presumably the Aman (Military Intelligence) for signals, electronic, and telemetry intelligence, have maintained contact with both the ruling Taliban and the Northern Alliance. Sources close to Israeli intelligence have claimed that ‘Mossad has been infiltrating Afghan-born Jews in Kabul to try and penetrate the Taliban regime’. Dialogue with the Taliban has taken place regarding the establishment of intelligence collection facilities to monitor Iran, and possibly Pakistan. Teheran’s vehement opposition to the existence of the state of Israel, support for Palestinian terror groups, and quest for Weapons of Mass Destruction continues to drive Israel’s intelligence collection efforts. Similarly, Islamabad’s nuclear capability and ongoing conflict in Kashmir with
Israeli partner-India has further underscored the importance of Afghan-based collection operations. The relationship with the Northern Alliance has been to facilitate arms and equipment deliveries, ostensibly aimed at stemming the spread of Islamic fundamentalism and Muslim nationalism into Central Asia, the Caucasus, and China. These have been accomplished with the cooperation and participation of Russia, Turkey, and Tajikistan.
Tel Aviv’s support for the Northern Alliance can be easily understood as both the Afghan opposition and the Jewish state seek to prevent a total Taliban victory. Reports in the French media have surfaced as early as 1998 that Israeli military advisors were on the ground assisting the Northern Alliance in their fight against the Taliban. As for the Taliban, there are several potential explanations as to why the militia would cooperate with Israel. Both view Iran as a hostile state, and it is not inconceivable that Tel Aviv would share some of the intelligence collected against Teheran with their Afghan hosts. The Taliban originally enjoyed Israel’s, as well as Israel’s U.S. lobby’s, support as a buffer against Iran. Moreover, some sources have claimed that there exist Israeli financial interests in reviving the failed ‘Unocal plan’ for a pipeline crossing Afghanistan, which if true could potentially result in significant benefit to all parties. It is not improbable to consider that Israel would curry influence in Afghanistan while the Taliban desperately seek international recognition and victory in the civil war – something Israeli security officials have previously promised and delivered to other nations.
IMPLICATIONS: The likelihood of Israel’s activity in Afghanistan advancing a solution to the ongoing civil war is extremely remote. That is not an objective of the State of Israel in its dealings with Afghanistan. Rather, Tel Aviv is content to keep all factions fighting, with none achieving supremacy. Afghanistan will not pose a major external threat to Israel or any of its strategic partners as long as the factions continue fighting. The continuation of the civil war will also allow Tel Aviv to monitor developments in Iran, a much larger concern for Israel’s national security establishment. The Taliban and the Northern Alliance both regularly trade accusations of cooperation with Israel against one another, all the while silently working with Tel Aviv. However, any victor in the Afghan civil war would quickly distance itself from Israel, and create a void in Israel’s vital national collection requirements. Recent events, such as the destruction of the great Buddhas at Bamiyan, the Taliban’s decision to force non-Muslims to wear identification, and the regime’s condemnation of the convictions in the US embassies bombing trial, have all demonstrated the Taliban’s intransigence and disregard for international opinion. These factors only reinforce the need of concerned nations to have access to relevant intelligence on Afghanistan. Israel’s intelligence presence in Afghanistan, when considered with Israel’s access to airbases in Turkey, India, and Tajikistan, increase the potential success of a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The surveillance facilities in Afghanistan (like those in the Caucasus) will serve to facilitate a first strike, as well as to put Teheran on notice.
CONCLUSIONS: The renewed violence of the al-Aqsa Intifada has also served to reinforce Tel Aviv’s interest in Afghanistan. Israel’s security planners have been keen to insure the upsurge in Palestinian fighting does not translate into greater Muslim outrage at – and strikes against – the Jewish state. From the outset of the Intifada, Iran has been vocal in its support for the Palestinian uprising. An Israeli presence on Teheran’s eastern border may serve to temper this support. Likewise, Tel Aviv’s military and security cooperation with India, Russia, and the Central Asian republics positions Israel to continue its Afghan efforts. By quietly engaging the different Afghan factions, Israel has developed unique access to intelligence and developments within Afghanistan. This information will certainly be of interest to Israel’s new allies, thereby further solidifying its expanding and evolving relationships.
AUTHOR BIO: Christopher Boucek is the former managing editor of the Middle East Times in Cairo, Egypt. He currently conducts research and analysis on Central Asia and the Middle East.
Copyright 2001 The Analyst
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Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in India on September 6th, 2012
This article is dedicated to Israeli lurker, whose footprints we have tracked…
Muslims by faith are required not to suspect others of crimes, without proof. But, enough is enough! Pakistan’s defence establishments have been a target of Indo-Israeli attacks. As, Gen. Zia-ul-Haq once warned Israelis, that they do not do mischief in Pakistan, otherwise, Pakistan knows how to get even with them. Saudia has a border close to Israeli, it only takes few minutes flying time from there to Israel. So, Israel should be prudent in any operation supporting India against Pakistan. TTP has received training in Afghanistan from Israeli and Indian surrogate agents.
“Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad and presumably the Aman (Military Intelligence) for signals, electronic, and telemetry intelligence, have maintained contact with both the ruling Taliban and the Northern Alliance. Sources close to Israeli intelligence have claimed that ‘Mossad has been infiltrating Afghan-born Jews in Kabul to try and penetrate the Taliban regime’. Dialogue with the Taliban has taken place regarding the establishment of intelligence collection facilities to monitor Iran, and possibly Pakistan. Teheran’s vehement opposition to the existence of the state of Israel, support for Palestinian terror groups, and quest for Weapons of Mass Destruction continues to drive Israel’s intelligence collection efforts. Similarly, Islamabad’s nuclear capability and ongoing conflict in Kashmir with
Israeli partner-India has further underscored the importance of Afghan-based collection operations. The relationship with the Northern Alliance has been to facilitate arms and equipment deliveries, ostensibly aimed at stemming the spread of Islamic fundamentalism and Muslim nationalism into Central Asia, the Caucasus, and China. These have been accomplished with the cooperation and participation of Russia, Turkey, and Tajikistan (1).”
Ghauri II can reach Tel Aviv and Haifa. Abdali can even go further than that. So, Israel should stay out of this conflict. Pakistan knows how to deal with India, it is still reeling over Mumbai attacks. Don’t tread on Pakistan, we know how to bite back. If we can pruduce a nuclear bomb abd ballistic missiles, we also know how to quash our enemies. Pakistani Muslims do not care about israel and its regional policies. But, if it starts meddling in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. Pakistan will focus its defences on Israel also. Kamra attack accomplices have made certain revelations, which point the finger at India and Israel. So, Beware for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee!
1
Dr Raja Muhammad Khan
The terrorist attack on PAF Base Kamra was neither the first nor the last attack on the armed forces installations by the terrorists. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) accepted the responsibility of this terrorist act like many of its earlier attacks.
Not only this attack, but this body of terrorists killed 12 passengers of Gilgit based coaster on the same day and boldly accepted that responsibility too. These poor passengers were travelling back to their home towns to celebrate Eid with their families. The brave men of armed forces foiled terrorist act on PAF Base and killed all nine terrorists in the process and cleared the base in a matter of few hours.
The terrorists selected the wee hours for their attack on PAF Base. In fact, this was the time of Sehari and one tends to relax during these hours. Furthermore, it was 27th Ramazan and on this particular day of Ramadan, Muslims mostly remain busy in prayers and recitation of Holy Quran. Nevertheless, valiant men of Pakistan Air Force, through their quick response did not allow the terrorists to reach over to the target and annihilated all of them through their operational preparedness. Not only armed forces men, but the local police of the area also provided whole-hearted support to the Kamra defenders. The nation appreciates and salutes the Kamra defenders for their operational preparedness.
Whereas many analysts believe that this attack is the response of General Ashfaq Pervaz kayani’s statement against terrorist outfits and his determination to continue fighting these elements for bringing peace in Pakistan. In his address at Pakistan Military Academy on August 14, 2012, General Kayani said that, “Pakistan’s crisis was internal, related to a general embrace of extremism and violence.” He also said that, “the trouble in Pakistan was of our own making and had to be tackled internally.” This indeed was a great step of Army Chief to accept the reality and suggest diagnosis for the long-term. On its part, while accepting the responsibility of this terrorist act, the spokesman of TTP, Ehsanullah Ehsan said that we have planned this attack quite earlier and were waiting for the right moment. He also said that, TTP appreciates such attacks on armed forces and thus rightly, “We are proud of it.” Overall this was third terrorist attack by TTP on PAF base Kamra.
The conduct of this terrorist attack and many others by this terrorist organization indicate that it has no sympathy with the state of Pakistan or Pakistani interests anyhow. Since its formal establishment in 2007, the terrorist organization has carried out attacks against many national installations and other places, where it killed thousands of innocent people and also attacked on armed forces of Pakistan. Its attacks in mosques, Imambargahs and on other places of religious gathering, where it killed the Muslims, is a clear indication that the organization has no connection with Islam. In fact, the acts of TTP are totally controversial to Islam and ideology of Pakistan. By using Islam as a cover for their nefarious acts, TTP is defaming Islam and traditional peaceful society of Pakistan. In fact, it is an agenda of TTP to harm Islam and Pakistan. This fact has to be understood by our youth and those standing at the fence. Media needs to highlight these acts for the general awareness of the people of Pakistan.
The terrorist attack on Kamra Airbase has raised many logical questions. The most significant being that TTP’s major terrorist attacks are directed against the strategic national installations of Pakistan, which directly relates to the security and defence of the country. This means that it is working against the state of Pakistan. Generally such like acts are committed by the adversarial state against their enemy state(s). This agenda of TTP and its pattern of implementation can be further interpreted in two ways. First, this non-state actor organization has assumed for itself the role of enemy and the second, it is acting as an instrument of enemy state of Pakistan.
For the last few years, the pattern of its attacks clearly reveals that it tends to reduce the fighting potentials of Pakistani armed forces, which Pakistan will use only against its enemy state in case of war, rather against militants and terrorist groups like TTP.
Attack on Mehran Base Karachi in 2011, by TTP, where it damaged two early warning P-3C Orion aircraft; was aimed at reducing the surveillance potential of Pakistan Navy along critical approaches in the open seas and its own area of responsibility. These aircraft were not meant for use against the TPP. Similarly, the target at the Minahas Base, Kamra was the spying aircraft of Pakistan Air Force. The objective again is denying PAF of its fundamental necessity of early warning against any offensive by an enemy state. Attacks on GHQ and ISI were again aiming to cripple the command elements and strategic information gathering capacity.
Immediately after the attack, a report of ‘The New York Times, spread the rumour that, “Pakistan was storing its nuclear arsenal at Kamra.” In a way, this newspaper attempted to create an impression that, location of Pakistani nuclear weapons is in the knowledge of TTP or other terrorists. This has been the theme of US media, CIA, Pentagon and RAW. Indeed, after the terrorist attack on PAF base Kamra, Indian and American media has particularly launched a media campaign, with particular emphasis on the safety and security aspects of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals. The fact is that Kamra Base has nothing to do with nuclear weapons. These connections reveal that, TTP’s acts have some connections with above mentioned foreign institutions too.
The TTP or such like terrorist organizations may have their religious names and terrorist motives concealed in the garb of religion, but Pakistani nation has to assess and understand the true motives of such organizations.
The pattern of terrorism by TTP and other militant organizations clearly dictates an anti-state agenda. They work as the instrument of anti-Pakistan forces to internally destabilize and weaken Pakistan to a level that any foreign power can easily launch its aggression against Pakistan in the days to come without facing resistance from its armed forces. Should the valiant sons of Pakistan let this happen? Pakistani nation as a whole has to understand this strategy of its enemies and take all measures to foil them.
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