First time in years, the Pakistanis themselves struck the Taliban militants where it hurt the most, right in their own backyard. Some 40 odd people were killed in the Pakistani Aerial and artillery strike as a repercussion of increased Taliban attacks at the Pakistani State. Sans few collateral casualties the majority that was killed were either Pakistani extremist Jihadi bigwigs and many foreign Jihadi fighters or "International Ideological Mercenaries", as I would like to call them. Their nationalities varied between Uzbeks, Germans, Arabs, Pakistanis and Afghanis", quite a bunch, undoubtedly. The precision, lethality and intelligence of this Pakistani strike was meticulous and commendable, so is the courage of the new Army leadership, clarifying its stance on terrorism on ground. The Pakistani Military strike back is what was highly required with regards the tactical operation planning and strike having strategic impact. After all, this is exactly what the Talibans are doing to Pakistani Government for years.
Such precision strikes are what is desperately required at all tactical levels to achieve following goals for the Pakistani state and its security regime:-
1. Achieve much greater strategic impact through, smart targeting and resulting media attention.
2. The political baggage of the strikes is to be dealt by the Pakistani politicians, which conveys a message to the whole wide world, in particular the Taliban, that the days when "rats use to play, while the cat would be away" scenario is over, where Pakistani politicians instead of taking responsibility, would blame the Americans sinister designs for the region and their drone strikes to pacify the extremist tendencies at home. Well, they can't do that now, can they? while the indigenous forces strikes down the terrorist den and own the responsibility.
3. The amount of morale build up within complete Pakistan in general and Armed Forces in particular goes sky high with such revenge strikes, as "Blood For Blood" is the call by the combat troops at Pakistan and by those civilian who have lost their loved ones in the Taliban"s indiscriminate attacks on the Pakistani population.
4. The precision strikes based on domestic human intelligence avoids the much dreaded collateral damage while reducing the risks and burdens of boots on ground ambush, which may leak the security of the complete operation, jeopardizing the element of surprise, which is critical for the success of any such operation. Precious combat troops lives have also been kept out of unnecessary danger, which is highly desired aspect missing in Pakistani tactical operations against the terrorists.
5. Pakistani Security Forces are finally sending out the much needed message, that they are capable of striking back at will and with precision in defiance of any act of terror targeting any element of the Pakistani State.
6. Such Joint warfare or Joint Operations by the Pakistani Army in collaboration with the air force is the need of the hour to counter the menace of terrorism. Pakistani security forces lost more manpower in the post 9/11 "War Within" they started fighting at their own home grounds than all three wars combined they fought with India after independence in 1947. Use of high end military technology and suitable employment of Pakistani domestic aerial superiority against the terrorists to avoid loss of life and limb was a much desired action. This latest strike model provides an excellent guideline for all future anti terrorist operations for the Pakistani security forces.
It is needless to emphasize that the root causes of terrorism, emerging after three generations of Jihadist adventures or misadventures needs to be addressed politically and I stand by that. However, for any such process, the Pakistani State needs to be in a position of strength rather anything else as the Taliban were trying to achieve the same before being struck at their heart. The Taliban, will reciprocate this strike for sure, however, what matters is that they now know the implications of their actions. The Pakistani State through its security forces needs to plan and conduct such strikes wherever necessary to send across the message loud and clear, "Blood for Blood", as it will serve Pakistan's broader interests domestically and internationally.
Such precision strikes are what is desperately required at all tactical levels to achieve following goals for the Pakistani state and its security regime:-
1. Achieve much greater strategic impact through, smart targeting and resulting media attention.
2. The political baggage of the strikes is to be dealt by the Pakistani politicians, which conveys a message to the whole wide world, in particular the Taliban, that the days when "rats use to play, while the cat would be away" scenario is over, where Pakistani politicians instead of taking responsibility, would blame the Americans sinister designs for the region and their drone strikes to pacify the extremist tendencies at home. Well, they can't do that now, can they? while the indigenous forces strikes down the terrorist den and own the responsibility.
3. The amount of morale build up within complete Pakistan in general and Armed Forces in particular goes sky high with such revenge strikes, as "Blood For Blood" is the call by the combat troops at Pakistan and by those civilian who have lost their loved ones in the Taliban"s indiscriminate attacks on the Pakistani population.
4. The precision strikes based on domestic human intelligence avoids the much dreaded collateral damage while reducing the risks and burdens of boots on ground ambush, which may leak the security of the complete operation, jeopardizing the element of surprise, which is critical for the success of any such operation. Precious combat troops lives have also been kept out of unnecessary danger, which is highly desired aspect missing in Pakistani tactical operations against the terrorists.
5. Pakistani Security Forces are finally sending out the much needed message, that they are capable of striking back at will and with precision in defiance of any act of terror targeting any element of the Pakistani State.
6. Such Joint warfare or Joint Operations by the Pakistani Army in collaboration with the air force is the need of the hour to counter the menace of terrorism. Pakistani security forces lost more manpower in the post 9/11 "War Within" they started fighting at their own home grounds than all three wars combined they fought with India after independence in 1947. Use of high end military technology and suitable employment of Pakistani domestic aerial superiority against the terrorists to avoid loss of life and limb was a much desired action. This latest strike model provides an excellent guideline for all future anti terrorist operations for the Pakistani security forces.
It is needless to emphasize that the root causes of terrorism, emerging after three generations of Jihadist adventures or misadventures needs to be addressed politically and I stand by that. However, for any such process, the Pakistani State needs to be in a position of strength rather anything else as the Taliban were trying to achieve the same before being struck at their heart. The Taliban, will reciprocate this strike for sure, however, what matters is that they now know the implications of their actions. The Pakistani State through its security forces needs to plan and conduct such strikes wherever necessary to send across the message loud and clear, "Blood for Blood", as it will serve Pakistan's broader interests domestically and internationally.
