Abbot Abad

Abbot Abad Fiasco

Khalid Munir

When Israel in 1976 carried out rescue operation named

“Operation Thunderbolt” at Entebbe airport, we as young officers jeered at Ugandan Army. When Israel destroyed Iraqi nuclear Installation by air attacks, we, though saddened, were critical of Iraqi air force for letting the Israel Air Force carry out the operation without any resistance. During Carter’s era in 1980 USA carried out “Operation Eagle Claw”, a rescue operation for releasing hostages taken at American Embassy in Tehran. At that time Iran was at war with Iraq and Iranian forces were as alert as any force at war should be. We heard with disbelief President Carter announcing that USA had aborted a rescue plan, after two helicopters collided near Tehran. USA was able to land a C-130 and few helicopters near Tehran without Iranians knowing it. Iran came to know about it from President Carter’s speech. Now on second of May 2011, it has happened to us. The nation is stunned, army and air-force are issuing statements which do not satisfy the common man, and government who has nothing to do with War on terror and Afghan policy,  is trying in vain to defend its stance against an onslaught of the international demands for an explanation of Osama presence in the area and nation’s demand for truth.

Militarily two aspects need to be kept in mind. Abbot Abad is hub of training Centers for recruits of Frontier Force Regiment, Baloch Regiment and Army Medical Corps. It is also home to Pakistan Military Academy where Officer Cadets are trained. Training institutions are not fighting force. No combat brigade or even battalion is stationed at Abbott Abad. Secondly American, during Regan Era developed star war technology which was to be used against Soviet Union. After the break up of Soviet Union this technology was ultimately used against Iraq. This technology has no match in the world, and our army and air force can not compete with it. Pakistan’s stated defence policy is to try keeping balance of power with India not with United States. America does have the capability to jam our RADARS and if they did that during this operation we should not be surprised. I heard an anchor saying that this way they can take our nuclear weapons too. I can not say about that but USA has picked up one President at least. President Noriega of Panama was picked up by US forces after sending seals into the country and is now a prisoner in United States.

Abbott Abad incident has two intelligence aspects too. Either our intelligence agencies were ignorant about the presence of OBL, which is a great failure or as the world is blaming us, we were in league with Osama. In the first case someone should be courageous enough to come forward and take responsibility for this failure. The second aspect which international media and even some governments are coining if true is much more dangerous aspect than incompetence. In view of the fact that around 400 Al-Qaida suspects have been rounded up by our agencies, it seems very unlikely that our agencies were harboring Osama, especially that our army has suffered thousands of causalities in this war.

Winston Churchill once said that war is too serious a business to be left to generals only. We are doing exactly the same. Since Soviet invasion army had been formulating the Afghan policy. Mistakes had been made in past and likely to be committed now too without any accountability. It is time that civilian leadership decides to take over control of this policy. Government must define goals we have to achieve in this war and the parameters too. It is time to get tough with USA too. By bypassing our government, our army and agencies and attacking our soil is not what allies do to each other. CIA chief proudly said that informing ISI might have blown up the whole operation. That is arrogance and distrust. It is time to consider our alliance in this war which so far has given us nothing but death and destruction, yet we are the bad guys .  Taliban are in upbeat mood that Americans are on the run and that they will not leave in peace. This year may prove to be the bloodiest for Americans in Afghanistan. Pakistan should let  USA do it at its own for one year. If it fails , we can rejoin the war on better terms because after all it was our war too. No one wants Taliban rule in the country.