Army ordered to hit back
RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army has been ordered to retaliate against any action by foreign troops inside the country, Geo News quoted ISPR spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas as saying on Thursday night.
Shakil Shaikh adds from Islamabad: Pakistan’s military commanders resolved to defend the country’s borders without allowing any external forces to conduct operations inside Pakistan.
The military commanders expressed this resolve on the first day of the two-day Corps Commanders conference, which began here on Thursday at the General Headquarters. Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani chaired the all-important conference against the backdrop of the new strategic developments taking place in the region.
General Kayani has already rebuffed the American policy of including Pakistani territory in their operations against terrorists and those hiding in the areas bordering Afghanistan. Reports say that the US President Bush has allowed air raids from drones and ground operations in Pakistani areas including FATA.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has termed General Kayani’s response to the Americans as a true reflection of the government’s policy. The military commanders are understood to have discussed the implications of the American attacks inside Pakistan and took stock of the public feeling.
“In his statement, Genral Kayani has represented the feeling of the entire nation, as random attacks inside Pakistan have angered each and every Pakistani,” said a senior official. As the corps commanders continue their discussion on Friday, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has supported the Bush administration’s policy of conducting attacks inside Pakistan.
President Zardari is expected to talk to Mr. Brown on this issue during his first visit to Britain next week. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, is also learnt to have already talked to senior security officials in Washington. The latest spate of attacks from drones in Fata has killed many innocent people recently, which has only added to the gravity and complexity of the situation.
re: Army ordered to hit back at cross-border attackers
Pakistan did take down some Soviet planes in during the Afghan-Soviet war. Keep in mind, the USSR was a super power back then. That was what kept our army's fighting spirit alive, after being very demoralized because of the 71 debacle.
re: Army ordered to hit back at cross-border attackers
Mubarik every one an other "MERD" has been discovered in Pakistan. Now we have 3 in total.
Imran, CJ iftikhar, and new entry Gen. Kiani.
After listening to kiani's statement, suddenly I became very aware of my backbone.
re: Army ordered to hit back at cross-border attackers
The stern warning or war of words was aimed at Mullen and US Forces. Mullen had suggested a day earlier that more incursions may be necessary. In response to which Kayani issue this statement the day after. It was not aimed at NATO.
NATO has clearly said that its mandate is at the border and no further. The incursions which occured have been by US Forces. (Then ofcourse we now hear Bush had authorized this back in May).
What we might see, realistically, is that US Forces will relax on the cross border strikes for a while, and then resume again after things have cooled down. Perhaps something of more importance will occur in Pakistan which will serve to divert the public's attention and give room for more of these airstrikes at a later time.
Will they really hit back at NATO or is just to please the public opinion in the country?
Also do they have the guts to** attack NATO forces**?
In case you missed posts in this thread, the hit-back is not for NATO because NATO doesn't attack in Pakistani areas to begin with, its mainly aimed at "drone" attacks operated by US. We'll only see any truth in words once such reply is carried out.
Re: Army ordered to hit back at cross-border attackers
**12 killed in US drone attack in N Waziristan
**MIRANSHAH: At least 12 people were killed and 10 others injured in yet an other US drone’s attack at Miranshah in North Waziristan on Friday.
Attack was carried out despite US assurance not to conduct any further raid inside Paksitan’s territory.
Sources told US drones launched an attack inside Pakistan’s area at 4:00am early in the Friday morning.
Two missiles were fired at a house in Tol Khel area on the outskirts of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan district, killing dozen people and injuring 10 others.
Agree with you. They must be now busy planning what it could be as they have already used the other tactics to keep the Pakistani judiciary, army, media general public busy by causing this internal circus. Also by suicide bombings across the country in major cities. Those tactics they have already used to engage everyone's attention on those issues.
All of us need to keep the focus. We know they will try something new now. So we need to keep the focus on the original issue that is; SOVEREIGNTY OF PAKISTAN.
What we might see, realistically, is that US Forces will relax on the cross border strikes for a while, and then resume again after things have cooled down. **Perhaps something of more importance will occur in Pakistan which will serve to divert the public's attention and give room for more of these airstrikes* at a later time*.
Re: Army ordered to hit back at cross-border attackers
It's funny how they keep broasdcasting that the 'experts' believe that OBL (CIA's employed assasin) is hiding somewhere alongside the borders where they are carrying these attacks (which experts are they, though? They wont say). I am sure they dare to say this because they know the people are so dumb and would believe this crap.
They know very well where OBL is hiding but they making 'his presence' an excuse to keep attacking Pakistan.
Apart from that, the news from american media and our media is so much contradictory regarding killings of the civilians in those parts. Local media even showed the videos of the residents (including women and kids) of those parts killed in these strikes or lost body parts by these attacks. Whereas american media claims there were no attacks on the civilian population.
What we might see, realistically, is that US Forces will relax on the cross border strikes for a while, and then resume again after things have cooled down.
We'll just have to see....
In case you missed posts in this thread, the hit-back is not for NATO because NATO doesn't attack in Pakistani areas to begin with, its mainly aimed at "drone" attacks operated by US. We'll only see any truth in words once such reply is carried out.
OK.
Yes have to wait and see if Pakistan armed forces can hit back.