http://www.viewpointonline.net/kitnay-aadmi-thay-char.html
One of the most memorable dialogues of the 1975 blockbuster Sholay was kitnay aadmi thay and in reply the bandit ashamedly says do aadmi thay, this response turns Gabbar Singh the gang leader, in a fit of rage, who then shoots the three cowardly dacoits.
The outlaws of Sholay faced two; the lead pair Veeru and Jai, while the fantastic four who conducted the Rambo Class operation on the night of 22nd May 2011, at Mahran air base were facing elements of 25th mechanized infantry division, navy commandos (SSGN), navy marines, Zarrar battalion of the SSG, rangers, elite force and the police, both deployed and in reserve.
The ground forces also enjoyed support of choppers from above. However those four guys whose average age was 20 mocked a brigade plus strength of the sixth largest army of the world for a good 16 hours. The planning, determination, execution and the level of motivation was simply superb. Two of them fought till death while the other two blew themselves up. None tried to flee and none surrendered. However before being liquidated they had transformed two P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft into pulp. The two machines cost rupees six billion while 10 personnel of the security forces were eliminated. Damage to any other installations is still being kept a secret. This was at the tactical level.
At the strategic level they have created a massive trust deficit among the people of this country; that the defense establishment cannot provide them security. Second, the international community now doubts our capability to safeguard the nuclear assets more than ever before, while the armed forces morale has nosedived. The nature of operation by the attackers may also point to fissures within the security establishment, as some inside knowledge is required to carry out such an operation. The intelligence failure too, is complete and comprehensive. Experts believe that the worst is yet to come.
The spokesman for the Navy Commodore Irfan-ul-Haq said that since they came at night hence they could not be effectively countered. Earlier on, the Air Chief complained that during Abbotabad operation the US choppers entered our airspace at night, hence could not be engaged. Well our armed forces should issue a communiqu to all our possible adversaries that all enemy incursions should take place during daytime so that they can be effectively intercepted. Meantime, Noman Bashir, the Naval Chief who appeared in a commando gear after the operation said that it was not a security breech.
Sir! it was a 41 gun salute to your highness, your great leadership and your superb security arrangements. Please concentrate on the BMW you have purchased worth Rs 80 million, the income from several marriage halls you rent out in the vicinity of Mehran, Anchorage Housing Scheme Islamabad, Navy Housing Scheme at Karsaz Karachi, as well as the commercial income from Bahria Foundation, plus procurement for the navy worth billions.
While purchasing Agosta class submarines your ancestor admiral (retd) Mansur-ul-Haq has left an indelible mark on the integrity of the defenders of the sea, you have excessively praised the professionalism of the attackers at your press conference; its better you send your naval commandos to Waziristan to be trained by these professionals. Meanwhile in view of your articulations at the press conference, man of your caliber is quite fit to clap sitting behind the lead singers of a qawwal party.
At a critical time, i.e. on the morning of May 24th, 2011, Ahmad Mukhtar, the Defense Minister left for the USA on a private visit. While at Lahore airport, when enquired about the Mahran debacle, he said Bas ker Dain. (Stop it now). Perhaps whenever Ahmad Mukhtar visits the GHQ, he is subjected to strip search, which consists of removal of shirt, trousers and underwear, and allowed entrance subject to clearance by the sniffer dogs. Thats why he repeatedly says bas ker dain
The Prime Minister summoned the DCC meeting on 25th of May which was held without the Foreign Minister as there is none and the Defense Minister who is away. The Prime Minister got an opportunity to show his designer suit and Italian shoes to the participants, which he is so very fond of. However, it was a good photo session which came out with the ridiculous decision that all means would be employed by the security agencies to curb terrorism, as if they were not authorized previously to use all means.
While this reflects on the pathetic state of our leadership, the shameless anchorpersons and their cahoots are endlessly pointing the finger towards India and the USA, a clever but ineffective maneuver whereby attempts are made to shift the focus from the real issue of our security establishments performance to who is behind it.
Talat Hussain, Shahid Masood and Maria Sultan have been engaged for damage control, whereas some channels continue to air patriotic songs. The great Imran Khan is holding dharnas (sit in) in Karachi; so distant a place. Khan Saab, how about a dharna in front of the GHQ where all the critical decisions are made regarding allowing or disallowing drone attacks.
The fact, however, remains that to face four young guys with four Kalashnikovs, a couple of grenades and two RPGs, is a difficult proposition for the defenders of our ideological frontiers, no matter how well equipped they are; yet it feels immensely pleasurable when you encounter unarmed civilians especially during military rule. That feeling of total control and unbridled power is so euphoric. The experience of that high was intoxicating during the military action in former East Pakistan during 25th March till 16th December 1971.The situation turned bitter when Bengalis also took up arms. The same happened in Sindh from August till Dec. 1983.The operation in Baluchistan is ongoing. Lets see what happened in Quetta a week back.
The bone chilling incident took place on 17th May, 2011 at Kharotabad, Quetta, where five Chechans, father and son, mother and two daughters with valid passports with an Iranian visa were initially declared as armed terrorists on a particular mission and then gunned down by FC personnel from a close range. The entire nation has seen the footage on almost all TV channels where trigger happy Lt. Colonel Faisal Shahzad and his men, with a sadistic smile on their faces were indiscriminately firing on three unarmed women, lying on ground with hands and feet tied. Perhaps this is what they have done with all those who went missing in Baluchistan.
On 22nd May 2011, the Kharotabad residents handed over a video to media, taken with a mobile camera, wherein security personnel were seen pocketing a chain and other valuable articles from the dead bodies. Now it is proven beyond doubt that all of them were innocent civilians. One lady with seven month pregnancy was shot twelve times. So far none has appeared as witness before the inquiry tribunal for the fear of FC.
Such a gruesome incident could have triggered a firestorm in the civilized world, but for that you have to be part of the civilized world. Things are going on as usual in the holy land. The culprits are roaming freely and in all probability may never face prosecution. Meanwhile, on 25th May 2011, three more dead bodies of missing persons have been found in various parts of Baluchistan. It appears that culture and civilization in this country are now things of the past.
Is time not running out for our soldiers to understand that the adrenaline rush they experience while torturing and brutalising innocent civilians is transitory and renders an organized force completely ineffective when faced with a professional adversary. The greatest strength an army enjoys is the trust and support of the nation, and professionalism which is lost when absolute power is exercised with total impunity over the unarmed civilian population.
We perhaps still have a chance to survive. Isolated from the rest of the world, we are in no position to fight on so many fronts. The decision makers which constitute the military as well as the political leadership must , without any further loss of time change their mindset, and the national security doctrine; from a national security state to a welfare state. The military must stop meddling in politics and contain its business ventures, focus on its professional role and stop dreaming of taking over Kabul, as for 64 years it milked us in the name of security. Please stop this, for that is the only way out. Any failure or delay in policy shift now would disintegrate the State.
(The title in Urdu says: How many were they? Four)
One of the most memorable dialogues of the 1975 blockbuster Sholay was kitnay aadmi thay and in reply the bandit ashamedly says do aadmi thay, this response turns Gabbar Singh the gang leader, in a fit of rage, who then shoots the three cowardly dacoits.
The outlaws of Sholay faced two; the lead pair Veeru and Jai, while the fantastic four who conducted the Rambo Class operation on the night of 22nd May 2011, at Mahran air base were facing elements of 25th mechanized infantry division, navy commandos (SSGN), navy marines, Zarrar battalion of the SSG, rangers, elite force and the police, both deployed and in reserve.
The ground forces also enjoyed support of choppers from above. However those four guys whose average age was 20 mocked a brigade plus strength of the sixth largest army of the world for a good 16 hours. The planning, determination, execution and the level of motivation was simply superb. Two of them fought till death while the other two blew themselves up. None tried to flee and none surrendered. However before being liquidated they had transformed two P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft into pulp. The two machines cost rupees six billion while 10 personnel of the security forces were eliminated. Damage to any other installations is still being kept a secret. This was at the tactical level.
At the strategic level they have created a massive trust deficit among the people of this country; that the defense establishment cannot provide them security. Second, the international community now doubts our capability to safeguard the nuclear assets more than ever before, while the armed forces morale has nosedived. The nature of operation by the attackers may also point to fissures within the security establishment, as some inside knowledge is required to carry out such an operation. The intelligence failure too, is complete and comprehensive. Experts believe that the worst is yet to come.
The spokesman for the Navy Commodore Irfan-ul-Haq said that since they came at night hence they could not be effectively countered. Earlier on, the Air Chief complained that during Abbotabad operation the US choppers entered our airspace at night, hence could not be engaged. Well our armed forces should issue a communiqu to all our possible adversaries that all enemy incursions should take place during daytime so that they can be effectively intercepted. Meantime, Noman Bashir, the Naval Chief who appeared in a commando gear after the operation said that it was not a security breech.
Sir! it was a 41 gun salute to your highness, your great leadership and your superb security arrangements. Please concentrate on the BMW you have purchased worth Rs 80 million, the income from several marriage halls you rent out in the vicinity of Mehran, Anchorage Housing Scheme Islamabad, Navy Housing Scheme at Karsaz Karachi, as well as the commercial income from Bahria Foundation, plus procurement for the navy worth billions.
While purchasing Agosta class submarines your ancestor admiral (retd) Mansur-ul-Haq has left an indelible mark on the integrity of the defenders of the sea, you have excessively praised the professionalism of the attackers at your press conference; its better you send your naval commandos to Waziristan to be trained by these professionals. Meanwhile in view of your articulations at the press conference, man of your caliber is quite fit to clap sitting behind the lead singers of a qawwal party.
At a critical time, i.e. on the morning of May 24th, 2011, Ahmad Mukhtar, the Defense Minister left for the USA on a private visit. While at Lahore airport, when enquired about the Mahran debacle, he said Bas ker Dain. (Stop it now). Perhaps whenever Ahmad Mukhtar visits the GHQ, he is subjected to strip search, which consists of removal of shirt, trousers and underwear, and allowed entrance subject to clearance by the sniffer dogs. Thats why he repeatedly says bas ker dain
The Prime Minister summoned the DCC meeting on 25th of May which was held without the Foreign Minister as there is none and the Defense Minister who is away. The Prime Minister got an opportunity to show his designer suit and Italian shoes to the participants, which he is so very fond of. However, it was a good photo session which came out with the ridiculous decision that all means would be employed by the security agencies to curb terrorism, as if they were not authorized previously to use all means.
While this reflects on the pathetic state of our leadership, the shameless anchorpersons and their cahoots are endlessly pointing the finger towards India and the USA, a clever but ineffective maneuver whereby attempts are made to shift the focus from the real issue of our security establishments performance to who is behind it.
Talat Hussain, Shahid Masood and Maria Sultan have been engaged for damage control, whereas some channels continue to air patriotic songs. The great Imran Khan is holding dharnas (sit in) in Karachi; so distant a place. Khan Saab, how about a dharna in front of the GHQ where all the critical decisions are made regarding allowing or disallowing drone attacks.
The fact, however, remains that to face four young guys with four Kalashnikovs, a couple of grenades and two RPGs, is a difficult proposition for the defenders of our ideological frontiers, no matter how well equipped they are; yet it feels immensely pleasurable when you encounter unarmed civilians especially during military rule. That feeling of total control and unbridled power is so euphoric. The experience of that high was intoxicating during the military action in former East Pakistan during 25th March till 16th December 1971.The situation turned bitter when Bengalis also took up arms. The same happened in Sindh from August till Dec. 1983.The operation in Baluchistan is ongoing. Lets see what happened in Quetta a week back.
The bone chilling incident took place on 17th May, 2011 at Kharotabad, Quetta, where five Chechans, father and son, mother and two daughters with valid passports with an Iranian visa were initially declared as armed terrorists on a particular mission and then gunned down by FC personnel from a close range. The entire nation has seen the footage on almost all TV channels where trigger happy Lt. Colonel Faisal Shahzad and his men, with a sadistic smile on their faces were indiscriminately firing on three unarmed women, lying on ground with hands and feet tied. Perhaps this is what they have done with all those who went missing in Baluchistan.
On 22nd May 2011, the Kharotabad residents handed over a video to media, taken with a mobile camera, wherein security personnel were seen pocketing a chain and other valuable articles from the dead bodies. Now it is proven beyond doubt that all of them were innocent civilians. One lady with seven month pregnancy was shot twelve times. So far none has appeared as witness before the inquiry tribunal for the fear of FC.
Such a gruesome incident could have triggered a firestorm in the civilized world, but for that you have to be part of the civilized world. Things are going on as usual in the holy land. The culprits are roaming freely and in all probability may never face prosecution. Meanwhile, on 25th May 2011, three more dead bodies of missing persons have been found in various parts of Baluchistan. It appears that culture and civilization in this country are now things of the past.
Is time not running out for our soldiers to understand that the adrenaline rush they experience while torturing and brutalising innocent civilians is transitory and renders an organized force completely ineffective when faced with a professional adversary. The greatest strength an army enjoys is the trust and support of the nation, and professionalism which is lost when absolute power is exercised with total impunity over the unarmed civilian population.
We perhaps still have a chance to survive. Isolated from the rest of the world, we are in no position to fight on so many fronts. The decision makers which constitute the military as well as the political leadership must , without any further loss of time change their mindset, and the national security doctrine; from a national security state to a welfare state. The military must stop meddling in politics and contain its business ventures, focus on its professional role and stop dreaming of taking over Kabul, as for 64 years it milked us in the name of security. Please stop this, for that is the only way out. Any failure or delay in policy shift now would disintegrate the State.
(The title in Urdu says: How many were they? Four)
