Bharat Rakshak

ISLAMABAD: Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani upped the ante in the standoff with the United States by telling his troops on Thursday that aggressors would not be able to evade a crushing retaliation in future. Where he vowed to respond to any future ‘aggression’ by United States and Nato troops based in Afghanistan with ‘full force’ regardless of its consequences, he also permitted the troops to respond to any attack without waiting for directions from the command.“Be assured that we will not let the aggressor walk away easily,” the army chief said in a message for the troops and added that he had “clearly directed that any act of aggression will be responded with full force, regardless of the cost and consequences”.The message, text of which was shared with Dawn by a source and confirmed by an ISPR official, was specially drafted to deal with the gloom in the ranks after Saturday’s Nato air strikes on border posts.Paying tributes to the 24 soldiers who were killed in the incident, Gen Kayani said he was proud of his men who responded with all resources at their disposal, including artillery. “We all salute the courage displayed by brave officers and men of 7 AK Regiment.”He believed that the attack could have been retaliated effectively had the communications network not broken down. “Timely decision could not be taken due to breakdown of communication with the affected posts and therefore lack of clarity of situation at various levels, including corps HQ and GHQ.”Gen Kayani further clarified that the troops could respond on their own, when attacked, without waiting for orders from the command. “I have full trust in your capabilities and resolve,” he stressed.The morale-boosting message, however, pointed to a rethink in the military command about the role of ldiers posted on the border with Afghanistan, where they have been assigned to fight militants instead of dealing with border security.The troops are, therefore, given weapons relevant to the task they are expected to perform. But, the latest attack has forced a rethink of the strategy with the focus shifting from fighting militants to ensuring security of the border

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said that there was no threat of either “judicial” or “military” coup as both the institutions were pro-democracy and did not want to derail the system.
The prime minister was responding to the queries of callers from across the country in a live PTV’s programme “Prime Minister Online”. To a question about the submission of reply by the government, Army, and ISI to the Supreme Court in Memo Case, the prime minister said there will be one reply from the executive authority.The PM said Pakistan’s decision to boycott the Bonn Conference in protest against the Nato/Isaf attack and violation of its sovereignty, was final and taken collectively.“How we can attend the conference when our sovereignty came under attack,” he remarked.
The soil of Afghanistan was used against sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan, he added.He said the decision of staying away from the Bonn Conference was taken after thoughtful consideration and after the meeting of the Federal Cabinet which also endorsed the decisions of halting Nato supplies and vacation of Shamsi Airbase, taken by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet.The decision was unanimous and taken with collective wisdom and keeping in view sentiments and aspirations of the people, he said adding, “If we sit in the Bonn Conference and another attack takes place who will be responsible for that.”“When German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked me to attend the conference, I told her that the matter is referred to a high powered Parliamentary Committee on National Security,” he added.He said in his opinion, the decision to not to attend the conference was in line with national honour, self-respect and dignity.He denied that it was being considered to send Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Bonn.
Gilani said Pakistan can work with the United States, Nato and Isaf under a new agreement and by devising new rules of engagement.“We have to formulate new rules of engagement and we can work under a new agreement.”The Prime Minister said it is upto the Parliamentary Committee on National Security to give recommendations for a decision on ties with US and Nato

RamaY wrote:And the liberal force always try to associate with the rest, calling them the silent majority. Per this logic TSP can be labelled only when the entire 200+ million paki population commit a mass terror sooside. A note to the people who try to support such nonsense.

Prem wrote: Troops free to hit back in future: Kayani

Prasad wrote:. . . h,d&r . . .

Prasad wrote:Even then you notice that he blames communication breakdown for lack of adequate response. If there had been proper communication does he think PAF could've whistled up a flight of F-16s for support? ISAF already had apaches and ac-130s. I'm sure that any point in time there is a flight of f-16's/18s in the air for close air support of frontline troops. I don't think anyone doubts what would happen if fizzleya takes on armed ISAF fighters. And downing a fighter, esp an F-16 is a far far bigger deal for h,d&r for pukis than a few border post soldier abduls....

Suppiah wrote:

Prasad wrote:Even then you notice that he blames communication breakdown for lack of adequate response. If there had been proper communication does he think PAF could've whistled up a flight of F-16s for support? ISAF already had apaches and ac-130s. I'm sure that any point in time there is a flight of f-16's/18s in the air for close air support of frontline troops. I don't think anyone doubts what would happen if fizzleya takes on armed ISAF fighters. And downing a fighter, esp an F-16 is a far far bigger deal for h,d&r for pukis than a few border post soldier abduls....

Apaches and C-130s are vulnerable to a country with proper air support unless Unkil brings on other gear into play. Thanks to Kiya-nahins warning, he may do just that..perhaps even launch a missile or two at ISI HQ apart from taking basic precautions of knocking out all comm systems and radar installations prior to the next mission.

Pakistan wants those responsible for attack punished

(1 hour ago) Today

ISLAMABAD: Setting terms for renewal of ties with the United States, Pakistan has sought ‘punishment’ for and an ‘apology’ from those responsible for Saturday’s deadly Nato attack on two of its border posts.

The demand, military sources say, was made through a letter sent to Washington earlier this week.

A Pakistani diplomat at the Foreign Office confirmed the demand and said Washington had been categorically told to “stop treating Pakistan as a client state”.

The military has proposed a set of five options to be exercised in case Washington refuses to accept its mistake, apologise and punish those responsible. The options remain a closely guarded secret, but military sources say some of them are quite extreme.

“We have very few options left with us and we clearly understand their implications,” a Pakistani general said, without elaborating what was being considered.

Prem wrote:Most of the time a supposedly complex problem have simple solution. Sooner or latter Civilized world will come to the one simple conclusion about Paki state and people that they are all BDY. Paki situation is fast developing into that of a foolish busy Bakra unmindful of being surrounded by faithfuls sharping their knives to do the Qurbani.
BTW, King Kayani , Kya Kashmir Chahiye ?

rajanb wrote:Pakistan wants those responsible for attack punished

The military has proposed a set of five options to be exercised in case Washington refuses to accept its mistake, apologise and punish those responsible. The options remain a closely guarded secret, but military sources say some of them are quite extreme.

“We have very few options left with us and we clearly understand their implications,” a Pakistani general said, without elaborating what was being considered.

ramana wrote:The idea of a Subaltern's coup or rather Colonel's coup as opposed to the traditional General's coup is a BR idea. We discussed this in 2007.

shiv wrote:

Raja Bose wrote:We need a BRF acronym/term for the Paki white flag flying over the Paki Army post pest-e-shaheedized by NATO AC-130s. It is after all the Ultimate Towel.

That was a white towel wasn't it? Not a flag as such. Someone archive that picture.

SSridhar wrote:

Threats are coming thick and fast. It could all be bluster, but we should take precautions. By claiming that the options being considered are 'extreme' and the 'implications are understood', the hint is nuclear weapons, both tactical and strategic. I am also 'extreme' here. Strategic weapons for India and tactical weapons for advancing ISAF/ANA forces. It could also be missile attacks at Bagram, for example.

There is little sympathy in India for the Pakistan Army; its hands are stained with too much Indian blood. Consequently many Indians would react to this latest coalition fiasco with an indifferent shrug that implies, “The Pakistanis have made their bed; now let them lie in it.” But that would be inhuman, short-sighted and strategically unwise.

Instead one must deliberate upon the western military penchant for untrammelled firepower.

Surya wrote:Hmm Shukla has this gem on his blog

“As far as the talks with Pakistan go, I will not approach the talks with any pre-conceived notion. I will say what we have to say, I will say what are the facts, how we see them and [share] the evidence that we have [about terror acts]. I will say what we expect of them,'' Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said here on Thursday. He was addressing a press conference here after releasing a “three-year report on major tasks accomplished during December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2011.'' Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram completed three years in office on Wednesday.

Mr. Singh said that certain dates were proposed for the Home Secretary-level talks from both the sides but the schedule was yet to be finalised.

“Terrorist camps are still there across the LoC [Line of Control]. We have specific reports and detailed photographs. There is no question of denying that. We are certain terrorists are in large numbers. Attempts are still on to infiltrate them into India through several routes,'' he said.

Asked for his response to the recent statement of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) threatening India, he said there were many elements in Pakistan who were radicalised and jihadis. “They are openly saying all these things from different platforms in Pakistan. It is for Pakistan to control these elements and ensure that they do not create any hysteria.”

The issue of fake Indian currency notes was “very crucial,'' he noted and admitted that high quality fake currency notes were being pumped into India. Asked if Pakistan's spy agency ISI was involved in such activities, he said the quality of the notes suggested that some State actors were involved in it as well.

“We believe that some State actors are working to pump fake currency notes into India. There could be State actors employing non-state actors. We are not taking the name of the State actor. You can understand who the State actor is,'' Mr. Singh said.

Specific and substantive initiatives were taken in the past three years and capacity was added for effective intervention.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/301117/[b]r ... ck-says-us[/b]/

Later in the evening, the former Law Minister and Pakistan People's Party's lawyer, Babar Awan, pointed out that the Court had ordered the setting up of the commission without hearing the government.

“Once again history is repeating itself.''

Referring to the “judicial murder'' of the former Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Mr. Awan said: “PPP has never got justice and Punjab has always had its way in this country.''

According to US officials, the commandos first thought they were being fired at by Taliban militants, but later discovered that the fire reportedly came from Pakistani troops.
This led the commandoes to request an airstrike against the assailants, who then contacted a joint border-control center to verify if there were any Pakistani troops present at the checkpost.
The Pakistani representatives at the center reportedly said that there were no Pakistani troops in the area; the US officials told the WSJ that this cleared the way for the Americans to conduct the airstrikes.

U.S. officials countered that the Pakistani positions were more like makeshift campsites than established military bases. A U.S. official said that because the Taliban and Pakistani military use some of the same weaponry{ My take not only same weaponry but same men and same leadership and chain of command, it was difficult to tell who was firing at the assault force.

hulaku wrote:The original WSJ quoted by the Tribune

Pakistan doesn't have veto authority over strikes along the border, U.S. officials said.

Raja Bose wrote: ArmenT has been asked to do the honours on BRF dictionary. Anujan posted a screen grab earlier on this thread: http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh27 ... attack.jpg

ArmenT wrote:

Raja Bose wrote: ArmenT has been asked to do the honours on BRF dictionary. Anujan posted a screen grab earlier on this thread: http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh27 ... attack.jpg

Honors done in here saar. Bliss to comment on entry as needed.

Kati wrote: That news came to me as a surprise,...and therefore wanted to cross check with BRFites.....

Suicide blast injures up to 70 near Afghan Nato base


AFP

Pakistan defends lack of action during NATO attack

Islamabad: Pakistan's military says confusion and a communication breakdown prevented its airforce from scrambling to defend troops on the ground during the deadly NATO bombing last weekend at two border outposts.

The military has faced uncomfortable questions over why the airforce did not respond after the army said the deadly NATO attack went on for almost two hours and that Pakistani commanders had contacted and pleaded with coalition commanders to stop firing.

A military statement on Friday said the airforce could not be deployed due to a "breakdown of communication" and confusion at "various levels" within the organization

Altair wrote:

Pakistan defends lack of action during NATO attack

Islamabad: Pakistan's military says confusion and a communication breakdown prevented its airforce from scrambling to defend troops on the ground during the deadly NATO bombing last weekend at two border outposts.

The military has faced uncomfortable questions over why the airforce did not respond after the army said the deadly NATO attack went on for almost two hours and that Pakistani commanders had contacted and pleaded with coalition commanders to stop firing.

A military statement on Friday said the airforce could not be deployed due to a "breakdown of communication" and confusion at "various levels" within the organization