Musharraf keeps saying that the biggest threat to Pakistan is internal, and I agree with him, so how will these weapon platforms fight internal extremism and militancy?
Instead, we should be investing in the individual solider, majority of whom are not well equipped at all. Proper, high grade bullet proof vests are rarely seen on soldiers and even most helmets are not made of kevlar. The vehicles used are usually soft skin jeeps and trucks which can easily be taken out by RPGs and IEDs.
While obviously nothing is foolproof as can be seen by US deaths in Iraq, but that does not mean that basic safeguards should be ignored when sending soldiers to battle. More than 700 soldiers died in Waziristan alone and much of this could have been prevented with better equipment and training to prevent them from being so easily ambushed.
Does the Pakistan army have anything equivalent to the US armoured Humvee in large enough numbers?
humvee does not work in hostile terrain. You need to be out on foot, helicopter support is invaluable to get in and out. As is good working weapons and armour. Most important thing is training and leadership. Regardless of what you have without training it's useless.
Musharraf keeps saying that the biggest threat to Pakistan is internal, and I agree with him, so how will these weapon platforms fight internal extremism and militancy?
Instead, we should be investing in the individual solider, majority of whom are not well equipped at all. Proper, high grade bullet proof vests are rarely seen on soldiers and even most helmets are not made of kevlar. The vehicles used are usually soft skin jeeps and trucks which can easily be taken out by RPGs and IEDs.
While obviously nothing is foolproof as can be seen by US deaths in Iraq, but that does not mean that basic safeguards should be ignored when sending soldiers to battle. More than 700 soldiers died in Waziristan alone and much of this could have been prevented with better equipment and training to prevent them from being so easily ambushed.
Does the Pakistan army have anything equivalent to the US armoured Humvee in large enough numbers?
Pakistan has only one coastline, its life blood so to speak...
Even if there is no imminent danger, a wise nation would perpare for any evantuality...
Consider whats at stake here if Pakistan is unable to defend her coastline!
And you know as well as anyone, that no matter how friendly we bocome with the Indians, there is always a chance that they could try something against Pakistans interests considering how aggressivly they are trying to expand their influence in the Indian ocean...
We cannot allow ourselves to helpless in the face of things... We can not let control of this region of the oceans be completly dictated by foreign powers at the nations expense... Prepare for any evantuality.
And you know as well as anyone, that no matter how friendly we bocome with the Indians, there is always a chance that they could try something against Pakistans interests considering how aggressivly they are trying to expand their influence in the Indian ocean...
Indian navy expanding in Indian ocean doesn't mean anything to pakistan. All your oil and other supplies and your exports go through arabian sea and suez canal. and as such indian navy is not looking at arabian sea very much though not ignoring it either. and it is US navy which has big influence in indian ocean.
Musharraf keeps saying that the biggest threat to Pakistan is internal, and I agree with him, so how will these weapon platforms fight internal extremism and militancy? ...
Pakistan also needs to look after it's economic interests. Militaries are usually expanded with economic growth.
Indian navy expanding in Indian ocean doesn't mean anything to pakistan. All your oil and other supplies and your exports go through arabian sea and suez canal. and as such indian navy is not looking at arabian sea very much though not ignoring it either. and it is US navy which has big influence in indian ocean.
Dude, What about the port of Karachi, and later the port of Gawadar? India put a blockade on the Karachi port in the last big war from what I hear...
Pakistan simply cant afford to be defensless.
Indians could be our best friends, but global politics means no one is anyones friend or enemy, so we have to prepare for the worst and that mean preparing for any potential threat, not just from India, but any other regional force including China, and the US...
India has the potential to be, if not dominant, then strong regional player, which may or may not be of any concern to us, but we should prepare for any eventuality. Its sort of the way India keeps a close eye on its western border even though Pakistan is really not a threat. Just preparing for any eventuality.
Dude, What about the port of Karachi, and later the port of Gawadar? India put a blockade on the Karachi port in the last big war from what I hear...
Pakistan simply cant afford to be defensless.
Indians could be our best friends, but global politics means no one is anyones friend or enemy, so we have to prepare for the worst and that mean preparing for any potential threat, not just from India, but any other regional force including China, and the US...
India has the potential to be, if not dominant, then strong regional player, which may or may not be of any concern to us, but we should prepare for any eventuality. Its sort of the way India keeps a close eye on its western border even though Pakistan is really not a threat. Just preparing for any eventuality.
My argument was not about pakistan being defenceless or not defenceless. You can spend as much as you want on military, whether on individual soldier or on some other thing. All i was telling that, argument of indian navy expanding in indian ocean shouldn't mean anything to pakistan. But yes, indian navy expanding in indian ocean does mean it is growing stronger in arabian sea also.
My argument was not about pakistan being defenceless or not defenceless. You can spend as much as you want on military, whether on individual soldier or on some other thing. All i was telling that, argument of indian navy expanding in indian ocean shouldn't mean anything to pakistan. But yes, indian navy expanding in indian ocean does mean it is growing stronger in arabian sea also.
Ofcourse it means somthing to Pakistan... India may be no threat, but thats no excuse to not expand our Navy.
No country can ever allow another regional power to take control over the region without preparing itself for the developing circumstances. You have to agree, that any country that wields a degree of authority in any regions, spells consequences for its neighbors, whether direct or percieved, the country must defend its future intrests. Im sure the Persian gulf and other Indian ocean nations are keeping a sharp eye on India aswell.
India has no immediate threats from any of its neighbors but that doesnt stop it from testing missiles with the capacity to hits thousands of miles beyond its borders!
submarines are a better investment than frigates ...I think
we should abandon the coldwar -era concept of large fleets of DD/FF ...instead concentrate more on asymmetric naval warfare