Pakistan's Military Diplomacy in Action

Pakistan's military diplomacy came in action more vividly when COAS Pakistan Army Gen Raheel Sharif presented Pakistani case on terrorism and regional security in London.

According to ISPR, COAS General Raheel Sharif, IISS and House of Commons has an interaction regarding terrorism, security issues and other regional matters.  Speaking at the occasion, COAS  stated that the success of Op Zarb e Azb had discernible effect, to continue pursuing sleeper cells across country.

While speaking to the participants, he emphasized that "Our environment and context needs to be understood". He reiterated the resolve of eliminating terrorism. "Want to finish terrorists and their nurseries." Gen Raheel also express his desire that international community would help Pakistan. "I expect International community to play its part for regional peace too."

"While we are fighting various terrorist groups, no new entities can be allowed to emerge. Terrorism a global issue, warrants global response", COAS said hinting towards the transnational nature of modern terrorism which has wrecked havoc in Pakistan as well.

International terrorism runs a very well-connected financial networks to sustain their activities. On this international funding Gen. Raheel maintained that it is something where every country will have to play a role for long term success. "Funding of all terrorist organizations has to be checked by all for long term success. We are against use of proxies and won't allow it on our soil.", He said clearly hinting a departure from Pakistan's policy of 1990's for Afghanistan.

He also talked about CPEC project and said it will be a game changer  and would bring prosperity for the entire area. He also ensured the participants that Pakistan Army will do everything to make it success.

Terrorist Attack on PAF Camp Badaber, Peshawar

Heavily-armed militants attacked the Pakistan Air Force base Badaber in Peshawar this morning, killing 29 people, says PAF spokesperson. These included 16 worshippers at a mosque located inside the base camp while three PAF technicians and an army captain were also killed battling with militants. Army soldiers quickly surrounded the attackers, confining them to a small area and killing at least 13 of them, said Pakistan’s military spokesman. ARY News reported in the evening that at least one attacker had been caught alive.

Terrorist attack on PAF camp Badaber, Peshawar once again necessitates the detailed revision of security plans for various airbases across the country. This is not the firs time PAF has been attacked by the terrorists. Earlier Mehran Base Karachi and Minhas Base Kamra have been attacked by terrorists and PAF has suffered major loses of its assets. P3-C Orion and Erieye AEW were destroyed in these attacks.

In today's attack though no such lose has been suffered by PAF, it will be prudent to ask why these terrorists were not checked by any law enforcement agency while they were on there way to Badaber camp?

Camp guards and QRF displayed professionalism while thwarting the attack and eliminated all the terrorists before letting them harm any of PAF's asset present on the base but still the loss of lives was on the higher side making it one of the most devastating attack after 14 December 2014 when TTP attacked Army Public School (APS) Peshawar in which more than 140 people were killed majority of them were students.

Analysis:

It must be noticed that this attack was mounted on PAF base Peshawar, but PAF camp. This shows that terrorists are desperate to make a big news. Since 1960's Badaber has remain a listening station used by CIA against Soviets. Camp mostly houses the residential quarters of PAF officials. So it will be prudent to assume that these terrorists were actually wanted to take hostage some of the PAF residents in the camp. Terrorists might wanted to use the hostages as bargain for the release of some arrested terrorists from custody of LEAs.

Tactical Drones for Pakistan's Special Service Group (SSG)

This still taken from the official ISPR video footage of Pak-China joint exercise in Bahadur Range (Attock) shows COAS Pakistan Army Gen Raheel Sharif holding a UAV which indicates that special forces (SSG) are now adopting the deployment of tactical drones for real-time situational awareness during the ops. This force multiplying technology increases the odds of operational success many times while reducing the risk factor for own troops. This technology would be of great value in high risk operations in buildup areas and dense forest areas like Shweal valley of North Wazirstan Agency in FATA where Pakistan Army has launched the last leg of Operation Zarb e Azb.