Pakistan successfully launches Hatf IV Shaheen-1

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Pakistan today conducted a successful launch of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Hatf IV Shaheen-1 Weapon System. The missile incorporates series of improvements in range and technical parameters of the existing missile. It is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 900 Kms.

Today’s launch, whose impact point was at sea, was witnessed by Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General (Retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Chairman NESCOM Mr Muhammad Irfan Burney and other senior military officers, scientists and engineers.

Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General (Retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai congratulated all scientists and engineers on the successful launch. He said that the improved version of Shaheen 1 has consolidated and strengthened Pakistan’s deterrence abilities manifold. He appreciated the efforts of all personnel for their dedication and professionalism.

(ISPR)

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‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ and ‘Medal of Honour: Warfighter’ Banned in Pakistan for Anti-Army and Anti-ISI content

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Two hugely popular video games, including ‘Call Of Duty: Black Ops II’, have been ordered off store shelves in Pakistan for portraying Pakistanis as terrorists with anti-army and anti-ISI content.

According to Gameinformer, the world’s largest video game magazine, the All Pakistan CD, DVD, Audio Cassette Traders and Manufacturers Association has directed that ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ and ‘Medal of Honour: Warfighter’ be taken off the shelves as they “show Pakistan in very poor light”.

‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’, a first-person shooter game by Activision Blizzard, has an episode where the player is in Lahore and brutally kills Pakistanis while Electronic Arts’ ‘Medal of Honour: Warfighter’ shows Pakistan as a hotbed of terrorists. Both games were released late last year and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Gameinformer quotes Saleem Memon, president of the All Pakistan CD, DVD, Audio Cassette Traders and Manufacturers Association, as saying: “The problem is that there are things that are against Pakistan and they have included criticism of our army. They show the country in a very poor light.” It quotes the statement issued earlier this week asking for both the games to be boycotted.

“The Association has always boycotted these types of films and games. These [games] have been developed against the country’s national unity and sanctity. The games have been developed against Pakistan and the association has completely banned their sale. Shopkeepers are warned and will be responsible for the consequences if found purchasing or selling these games.”

“Call of Duty: Black Ops II has one mission, titled ‘The Fallen Angel’ based in Lahore where you fight the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistani spy agency], who are the enemies,” Anand V, a video gaming enthusiast, said. “You have to fight and kill them in the mission,” he explained.

According to Anand, you play as a character, David Mason and in this mission there is a scene in which Mason and his friend Harper are in a heavily flooded part of Lahore. It is pouring heavily as the two men move around killing “the ISI forces”. In some particularly gruesome scenes, the men cut the throats of some Pakistani soldiers, with the blood shown spurting out. In one pictorial scene, which intersperses with the game, Mason and Harper confront two Pakistani soldiers.

“Mason bashes the head of one soldier against the door of the armoured truck, while Harper does it with the other Pakistani. Both are probably killed,” Anand said.

“In ‘The Fallen Angel’ you fight a lot of Pakistanis. You are travelling in a military camp... you are part of an armoured convoy and there are Pakistanis on both sides trying to attack you.. Your armoured car crushes the men as they come in front of you,” said Anand.

“Well, they are the obstacles in the mission.. so you have to kill them,” Anand answered. Meanwhile, ‘Medal of Honour: Warfighter’ depicts Pakistan as a jihadi haven and many sequences were developed with the help of some members of the Navy SEALs team that (so-called) killed Osama bin Laden in a secret raid on his Abbottabad house in Pakistan on May 1, 2011.

The seven SEALs were penalised last November for divulging classified information to the game’s developer. Each of the seven received a letter of reprimand and a partial forfeiture of pay for two months. Kathryn Bigelow’s movie, ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ by Sony Pictures, tells the story of the SEALs who took down bin Laden. One of the seven had reportedly divulged information about the raid to the moviemaker.

According to Fox News, both the games are hot sellers in Pakistan. A US daily quotes a game shop owner in Islamabad as saying that ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ has sold more than 5,000 copies since its release last November. However, the pirated copies, which sell at under $2 (Dh7), have huge sales. ‘Medal of Honor; Warfighter’ has sold around 1,000 copies in Pakistan, the daily says. Earlier, another game, ‘Assassin’s Creed’ was banned in Pakistan because Muslims found its content offensive.

Gulf News
(Edited by PCF Web desk)

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Pakistan army changes its entire military doctrine recognizing the 4GW & 5GW

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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army has changed its operational priorities for the first time in eleven years and described internal threats as the greatest risk to the country’s security, DawnNews reported on Wednesday.

The ongoing guerrilla war in the tribal area near borders with Afghanistan and armed attacks from different groups and elements on security installations and in cities were mentioned as biggest security threat in the new ‘army doctrine.’

The army publishes the doctrine to review its war preparedness and capabilities in order to keep them on the right track. A new chapter, ‘sub-conventional warfare’ has been included in the “green book” for the first time. Without naming characters in the war, the book talked about few groups and elements and also mentioned cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

The over 200-page green book is being distributed among military commanders and the military sources said that it would also be shared with the public and will also be posted on the army’s website at an appropriate time. According to BBC, defence analyst Talat Masood says that Pakistan army for the first time has admitted that the real threat is emanating internally and along the western borders and not directly from India, which was previously considered as number one enemy of the state.

(Dawn News)

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Deliberate Misperceptions created about defence budget

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Military capability is required to protect the country from internal and external threats, while political stability and economic prosperity is essential for development. The three components help in protecting the sovereignty, integrity and security of a state as well as well-being of the people. The three are interlinked and cannot be separated from each other. It will be ideal to concentrate entire energies of the state towards economic prosperity and to build up democratic institutions attuned towards welfare of people. An ideal state should be bestowed with sound system of justice where cheap justice is available at doorsteps, one law applicable to all, negligible gap between the rich and poor, the society free of curses of corruption, bribe, nepotism, favoritism and jobbery, equal chances for social growth irrespective of the social status. This is not only idealistic but also subject to geo-political environment in which the country is placed.

Pakistan is among the few states whose existence was not accepted by India and from the day one it conspired to reabsorb it into Indian Union. It succeeded partially in 1971 when it broke Pakistan into two and converted its eastern wing into Bangladesh. It is now conspiring to further truncate Pakistan. On its west is unfriendly Afghanistan, which has traditionally remained pro-India and anti-Pakistan. Of late, India and Afghanistan have become strategic partners and India has increased its influence in Afghanistan manifold. Perpetual hostility of India and deceitful behavior of Afghanistan has kept Pakistan on tenterhooks and in a constant state of insecurity. It was essentially the factor of insecurity which impelled Pakistan’s earlier leaders to gravitate towards the west and seek security in western defence pacts. Although alignment with USA helped Pakistan in building its armed forces, but it was certainly at the cost of development of Pakistan and welfare of the people. Above all, western pacts didn’t help in reducing Pakistan’s security concerns or in preventing breakup of Pakistan in 1971.

An influential lobby in Pakistan at the behest of detractors of Pakistan has all along been critical of armed forces and its defence expenditure. It sells a mischievous misperception that but for 60% of national budget getting consumed in defence; Pakistan would have become a prosperous state. Maulana Fazlur Rahman alleged that ‘one day’s Army budget is the combined annual budget of education and health’. He forgot that one day corruption in Pakistan comes to Rupees eight billion as disclosed by Chairman NAB. He also forgot that unlike military run institutions which are welfare oriented, they pay taxes and are running in profit, all public sector enterprises are running in losses and second largest portion of budget gets consumed in keeping them afloat. Losses incurred by them can meet the needs of defence. Another falsehood in circulation is that the military consumes a very big portion of government expenditures. The reality is that in 2012/13, defence affairs and services consumed only 17% of all government expenditures. Largest amount of budget is spent on domestic debt servicing.

Those propagating curtailment of defence expenditure to be able to develop economy forget that militarily weak Pakistan will tempt adventurers to either step in or destabilize it from within employing covert means. Economic prosperity is possible only when the country is free of external and internal threats, or is militarily in a position to thwart the threats, or has abundant mineral resources. All economic deals and bilateral trade agreements will remain mutually beneficial if the deals have been signed from a position of equivalent or near parity military strength. Diplomatic and political clout will be of some substance if one has military capability matching the hostile neighbor wanting to have its way.

China couldn’t have made such an impressive progress in its four-point modernization program and turned into an economic giant on the strength of its economy alone. While pursuing an overall defensive strategy, it never ignored the growth of its military potential to keep its adversaries at bay. There was a time when it was militarily weak, Britain imposed opium wars on China to force it to buy and consume opium from it. Learning a lesson from history, China has been spending huge amounts to build its military might, both conventional and unconventional to deter its enemies.

Likewise, India’s military muscle enabled it to extract benefits from the current and former super power as well as western world, Muslim world and Japan. The US is keen to make India a world power and a bulwark against China because of its military and economic strengths. India’s expanding military prowess motivated China to push border dispute on the backburner and to forge trade and cultural ties with India. India couldn’t have pursued its hegemonic policies against all its neighbors in South Asia on its economic strength alone. Its vast military capacity propels India to nurture grandiose plans of converting India into Mahabharat stretching as far as Afghanistan and Indonesia including Pakistan.

On 16 November 2012, Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar on the occasion of his book launching ceremony at Dhaka, ‘Beyond the Lines’, held the partition of subcontinent fallacious and expressed his utopian desire of reunifying the countries of the subcontinent to single entity of Akhand Bharat. He advocated formation of ‘South Asian Union’ on the lines of European Union, which is yet another Indian floated idea of ‘confederation’. It gives a fair idea that even after passage of 65 years Indian political leaders and elites have not given up the hope of undoing Pakistan and Bangladesh and establishing mythical Akhand Bharat.

India’s ambitious force modernization program has been at the cost of 70% Indians living below poverty line. Despite such a high a rate of poverty and illiteracy, there has hardly been any dissenting voice heard from within India objecting to lavish defence spending. No demand has been made to cut its ever increasing defence budget each year. But for the huge defence budget allocation of $40.44 billion, India couldn’t have employed over 1500,000 security forces to combat insurgents and separatists in its 19 states including occupied Kashmir where 700,000 troops are deployed since 1989. Its military which is in illegal occupation of Siachin Glacier since June 1984 couldn’t have sustained a corps size force for that long. But for its military clout, India which remained in the Soviet camp from 1947 till 1990 would not have been gladly accepted as a strategic partner by the sole super power and let it regain its lost influence in Afghanistan.

Had Pakistan not striven to maintain military balance with India at the cost of economic development, Pakistan by now might have got fragmented or turned into a satellite of India. One of the main contributory reasons of political chaos and economic meltdown in Pakistan has been the meddlesome role of India, which has been impeding its economic and political growth through intrigues and coercive tactics. Although Indian military has outpaced Pakistan’s military with a big margin, Pakistan’s minimum nuclear deterrence has restrained it from embarking upon high-cost risky venture. It is Pakistan’s nuclear capability which impelled India to resort to indirect strategy. Having put on the mask of friendship, it has been involved in covert war in concert with its strategic partners since 2002 to destabilize, denuclearize, de-Islamize and balkanize Pakistan.

Pakistan has been deviously embroiled in the futile war on terror imposed by USA which is eating into its vitals. Pakistan military resources are progressively dwindling in fighting this war with no end in sight, impacting its operational, technical and administrative fitness for war. Despite being so heavily engaged in this war for a decade, which is termed by some as an existential war, and despite being faced with three dimensional threats, it is indeed surprising that Pak Army has curtailed rather than increased its annual defence budget. Yet it is being propagated that military expenditure have been constantly on the increase. This is far from truth. Since 1990s, there has been a steady decline from 3.6% of GDP to 2.5% of GDP in 2012/13.

Current Army’s expenditure is at the lowest in history of Pakistan. While Pakistan’s total budget for the financial year 2012/2013 is Rupees 2960 billion, defence budget is Rupees 545, that is, 18.4% of total budget. Defence budget for Army, Navy and Air Force is 50% (Rupees 272 billions), Navy 25% (Rupees 136 billion), and Air Force 25% (136 billion). Army gets only 9% of total budget and not 60% as propagated. Further slashing the defence budget would be at the cost of compromising our defensive posture with crippling effects. Another myth which has been given publicity by US media is that the Army pocketed $ 10 billion Coalition Support Funds whereas in actuality it received only $1.8 billion as reimbursement for services it rendered.

Pakistan military would have certainly drastically cut down its defence budget and even its force structure had India been willing to do the same. Or India had given a written commitment that it wouldn’t resort to covert or overt war and would live as a peaceful and friendly neighbor. The US which is continuously preaching that India poses no threat to Pakistan has also not given any guarantee. Even if it gives a guarantee, it will have little value since it didn’t honor its 1959 agreement in 1971. Pakistan could have given up its weapon grade nuclear capability if India had reciprocated to Pakistan’s suggestion of making South Asia a nuclear free zone. India’s plea of upgrading its military potential because of threat from China is frivolous.

Given the hostile track record of India, bulk of strike formations poised against Pakistan, its Pakistan specific Cold Start doctrine, its refusal to resolve longstanding disputes of Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek, its resort to water terrorism to dry up Pakistan, its heavy involvement in FATA and Balochistan, its efforts to isolate and strategically encircle Pakistan and make it a failed state, it will be utterly foolish to suggest downgrading our defensive effort. It is like joining hands with enemies of Pakistan and fulfilling the long cherished desire of our arch enemy which misses no opportunity to harm Pakistan. Willful misperceptions by a handful of misguided politicians, journalists and pseudo intellectuals about defence budget to misguide the people and to defame and undermine the Army must end. Its huge sacrifices under extremely adverse conditions must be acknowledged and lauded.

By Asif Haroon Raja
The writer is a freelance columnist and a defence analyst Email: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com

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The Courageous Pakistan Army’s Stand on the Eastern Front: An Untold Story of 1971 Indo-Pak War

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| By SHARMILA BOSE

THERE is much for Pakistan to come to terms with what happened in 1971. But the answers don’t lie in unthinking vilification of the fighting men who performed so well in the war against such heavy odds in defense of the national policy. Rather, in failing to honour them, the nation dishonours itself.

My introduction to international politics was 1971, as a schoolgirl in Calcutta. Many images from that year are still etched in my mind, but the culminating one was the photo on Ramna Race Course of two men sitting at a table — the smart, turbaned Sikh, ‘our’ war-hero, Jagjit Singh Aurora, and the large man in a beret, A A K Niazi, commander of the other side, signing the instrument of surrender. Nearly a generation later, a chance interview for the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) with Lt Gen. Aurora took me back to 1971. The interview was not about 1971, but about injustices suffered by Sikhs at the hands of the state General Aurora had served. I thought he was a bigger hero for what he had to say then. That view was reinforced as I read — with incredulity — the disparaging remarks by other Indian officers about him, and each other, in their books. If this is what happened to the winning commander, I wondered what had happened to the other man in the photo.

The result was a revelation.

It turns out that General Niazi has been my ‘enemy’ since the Second World War. As Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army fought on the Burma front in 1943-45 in their quest for India’s freedom, Niazi was fighting on the other side, for the British Indian Army, under the overall command of General (later Field Marshal) William Joseph Slim. Slim and his 14th Army halted the advance of the INA and the Japanese at the Imphal campaign and turned the course of the war.

In the process of inflicting military defeat upon my ancestor, Niazi’s performance was so exceptional that the British awarded him an on-the-spot Military Cross for action on the Assam-Burma front in June 1944. On another occasion they wanted to award a DSO, but he was too junior, so a Mention in Despatches was recorded. In the original record of his MC signed by his commanding officers all the way up to Slim, which I obtained from the British Ministry of Defence, the British commanders describe Niazi’s gallantry in detail: “He organized the attack with such skill that his leading platoon succeeded in achieving complete surprise over the enemy.” They speak of how he personally led his men, the ‘great skill and coolness’ under fire with which he changed tactics with changing circumstances, created diversionary attacks, extricated his wounded, defeated the enemy and withdrew his men by section, remaining personally at the rear in every case.

The British honoured Niazi for “personal leadership, bravery and complete disregard for his own personal safety.” On 15 December 1944 the Viceroy Lord Wavell flew to Imphal and in the presence of Lord Mountbatten knighted Slim and his corps commanders Stopford, Scoones and Christison. Only two ‘Indian’ officers were chosen to be decorated by the Viceroy at that ceremony — ‘Tiger’ Niazi was one of them.

In 1971 Niazi was a highly decorated Pakistani general, twice receiving the Hilal-e-Jurat. He was sent to East Pakistan in April 1971 — part of a sorry tradition in South Asia of political rulers attempting to find military solutions to political problems. By then Tikka Khan had already launched the crackdown of 25 March for which he has been known to Bengalis as the ‘Butcher of Bengal’ ever since. The population of East Bengal was completely hostile and Pakistan was condemned around the world.

Authoritative scholarly analyses of 1971 are rare. The best work is Richard Sisson and Leo Rose’s War and Secession.

Robert Jackson, fellow of All Soul’s College, Oxford, wrote an account shortly after the events. Most of the principal participants did not write about it, a notable exception being Gen. Niazi’s recent memoirs (1998).Some Indian officers have written books of uneven quality — they make for an embarrassing read for what the Indians have to say about one another.

However, a consistent picture emerges from the more objective accounts of the war. Sisson and Rose describe how India started assisting Bengali rebels since April, but “the Mukti Bahini had not been able to prevent the Pakistani army from regaining control over all the major urban centers on the East Pakistani-Indian border and even establishing a tenuous authority in most of the rural areas.” From July to October there was direct involvement of Indian military personnel. “…mid-October to 20 November… Indian artillery was used much more extensively in support …and Indian military forces, including tanks and air power on a few occasions, were also used…Indian units were withdrawn to Indian territory once their objectives had been brought under the control of the Mukti Bahini — though at times this was only for short periods, as, to the irritation of the Indians, the Mukti Bahini forces rarely held their ground when the Pakistani army launched a counterattack.”

Clearly, the Pakistani army regained East Pakistan for their masters in Islamabad by April-May, creating an opportunity for a political settlement, and held off both Bengali guerrillas and their Indian supporters till November, buying more time — time and opportunity that Pakistan’s rulers and politicians failed to utilise.

Contrary to Indian reports, full-scale war between India and Pakistan started in East Bengal on 21 November, making it a four-week war rather than a ‘lightning campaign’. Sisson and Rose state bluntly: “After the night of 21 November…Indian forces did not withdraw. From 21 to 25 November several Indian army divisions…launched simultaneous military actions on all of the key border regions of East Pakistan, and from all directions, with both armored and air support.” Indian officers like Sukhwant Singh and Lachhman Singh write quite openly in their books about India invading East Pakistani territory in November, which they knew was ‘an act of war’.

None of the outside scholars expected the Eastern garrison to withstand a full Indian invasion. On the contrary, Pakistan’s longstanding strategy was “the defense of the east is in the west”. Jackson writes, “Pakistani forces had largely withdrawn from scattered border-protection duties into cleverly fortified defensive positions at the major centres inside the frontiers, where they held all the major ‘place names’ against Mukti Bahini attacks, and blocked the routes of entry from India…”

Sisson and Rose point out the incongruity of Islamabad tolerating India’s invasion of East Pakistani territory in November. On 30 November Niazi received a message from General Hamid stating, “The whole nation is proud of you and you have their full support.” The same day Islamabad decided to launch an attack in the West on 2 December, later postponed to 3 December, after a two-week wait, but did not inform the Eastern command about it. According to Jackson, the Western offensive was frustrated by 10 December.

Though futile, the Western offensive allowed India to openly invade the East, with overwhelming advantages. “ …despite all these advantages, the war did not go as smoothly and easily for the Indian army…”, but Sisson and Rose come to the balanced judgment that “The Pakistanis fought hard and well; the Indian army won an impressive victory.” Even Indian officers concede the personal bravery of Niazi and the spirited fight put up by the Pakistanis in the East. That the troops fought so well against such overwhelming odds is a credit both to them, and to their commanders, for an army does not fight well in the absence of good leadership.

However, as Jackson put it, “…India’s success was inevitable from the moment the general war broke out — unless diplomatic intervention could frustrate it.” As is well known, Pakistan failed to secure military or diplomatic intervention. Sisson and Rose also say, “The outcome of the conflict on the eastern front after 6 December was not in doubt, as the Indian military had all the advantages.” On 14 December Niazi received the following message from Yahya Khan: “You have fought a heroic battle against overwhelming odds. The nation is proud of you …You have now reached a stage where further resistance is no longer humanly possible nor will it serve any useful purpose… You should now take all necessary measures to stop the fighting and preserve the lives of armed forces personnel, all those from West Pakistan and all loyal elements…” Sisson and Rose naturally describe this message as “implying that the armed forces in East Pakistan should surrender”.

No matter how traumatic the outcome of 1971 for Pakistan, the Eastern command did not create the conflict, nor were they responsible for the failure of the political and diplomatic process. Sent to do the dirty work of the political manoeuvrers, the fighting men seem to have performed remarkably well against overwhelming odds. It is shocking therefore to discover that they were not received with honour by their nation on their return. Their commander, Niazi, appears to have been singled out, along with one aide, to be punished arbitrarily with dismissal and denial of pension, without being given the basic right to defend himself through a court-martial, which he asked for.

The commission set up allegedly to examine what had happened in 1971 was too flawed in its terms of reference and report to have any international credibility. However, even its recommendations of holding public trials and courtmartials were ignored. There is much for Pakistan to come to terms with what happened in 1971. But the answers don’t lie in unthinking vilification of the fighting men who performed so well in the war against such heavy odds in defence of the national policy. Rather, in failing to honour them, the nation dishonours itself.

Sarmila Bose is the niece of Subhas Chandra Bose or Netaji of Indian National Army fame who fought against the British supporting the Japanese. He is considered as a great hero in Bengal and India.Sharmila Bose is Assistant Editor, Ananda Bazar Patrika, India & Visiting Scholar, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University.

(Madina-e-Sani)

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Army Denies Approaching ECP for Voter Verification

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ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Army on Saturday denied that it had contacted Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Sindh chapter for the verification of voter lists in Karachi. The ISPR spokesman said that neither the election commission has contacted army to carry out the verification of the voter lists in Karachi nor the army approached the ECP to offer its assistance. The Supreme Court had directed the ECP to carry out door-to-door campaign to verify the electoral rolls in Karachi, proposing to take army’s help to conduct the verification process. According to Sindh Election Commissioner Sonu Khan, army officials had contacted him to discuss the verification process.

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COAS warns all state institutions to work within their constitutional limits

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While addressing a group of officers at GHQ on November 5, the Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani warned that much is desired for all state institutions to work within their constitutional limits. The political pundits observed that the statement carried veiled challenges to the judiciary as well as media creating uproar in political, legal and social circles. The statement provided an opportunity to the detractors to denounce ‘institutional bashing campaign’ with a pledge to forward their energies to forge harmony amongst the national institutions. Interpreting the contents of the statement, it appeared that it entails a warning to all the critics who unnecessarily target and defame the sacred institution with an aim to draw a wedge between the people and armed forces. The COAS’s statement has given some respite to the anxiety of questioned generals, emboldening them for an opportunity to defend themselves publicly against the one-sided media onslaught. Reviving their images, the generals are now giving documentary evidence to clarify their position on private TV Channels and the print media as well.

Why General Kayani was compelled to give that statement? What were the reasons that led to the address? Many talk-shows and news analysis conducted on different private TV news Channels cited various reasons for this prompting. An in-depth scrutiny and introspective examination of the statement of COAS will unravel its latent manifestation that was shrouded under the veiled warning to Judiciary and media. The COAS seemed to be referring the severe criticism of the institution where nine former generals are facing allegations of meddling into political process or financial corruption in the courts. Some of the reasons put forth are: a)The famous Asghar Khan case, which had been pending since 1996, was finally decided by the Supreme Court and the government was directed to take action against former COAS General Mirza Aslam Beg and ex-chief of Military Intelligence and ISI Asad Durrani for their role in sponsoring the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) in the 1990 general elections, b) During last couple of years, the superior courts have been hearing several high-profile cases related to the security forces and intelligence agencies, especially Inter-Services Intelligence.

Scores of ‘enforced disappearances’ cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Balochistan are pending with different courts, c) the involvement of three retired Generals, Maj.Gen Khalid Zaheer, Lt. Gen Khalid Munir and Lt. Gen Afzal Muzzafar in the corruption case in National Logistic Cell (NLC) in 2008, d) the connection of retired generals in Pakistan Railways and Fauji Fertilizer Company – Lt. Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi, former Secretary Defence, Lt Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi, Lt Gen. Saeeduz Zafar, and Major General Hamid Hassan Butt in connection with leasing 150 acres of Pakistan Railways land in Lahore to a private party on much cheaper rates as compared to the open market, e) Pakistan’s military is facing open media trial on the inaction of Pakistan Armed forces against NATO forces on two accounts – US unilateral air raid on Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad on the May 2, 2011 and NATO air strike on army border Salala check posts bordering Afghanistan Nov 26, in which 24 Pakistani troops were martyred, f) a smear media campaign against state institutions by anchorpersons like, Asma Jehangir, Hamid Mir and Najam Sethi creating inter and intra-institutional clashes.

And g) On the external front, the United States is leaving no stone unturned in belittling the image of Pakistan Armed forces in the media. Starting from the Raymond Davis affair, in which a CIA contractor shot and killed two Pakistanis in Lahore, to the accusing of ISI as a “veritable arm” of Talibans, to pressurizing Pakistan Army for the operation against Haqqani group in North Waziristan.

Ostensibly, any such development that hits the cultural norms and discipline of the military is bound to arouse the concern of the high echelons. Such like developments have undermined public’s confidence in the military, creating rifts amongst the high command with low-level command of the military. The judiciary has been seen to criticize the policies and actions of the military/intelligence agencies, followed by an unprecedented ‘misinformation drive’ in the electronic and print media. Gen. Kayani stressed that “While individual mistakes might have been made by all of us in the Country, these should be best left to the due process of law. As we all are striving for the rule of law, the fundamental principle; that no one is guilty until proven, should not be forgotten. Let us not pre judge anyone, be it a civilian or a military person and extend it, unnecessarily, to undermine respective institutions.” General Kayani put forward two fundamental questions; 1) Are we promoting the rule of law and the Constitution? 2) Are we strengthening or weakening the institutions?

It is generally talked that the Army Chief’s speech in the GHQ was reflective of the opinion of his fellow generals and the Pakistan Army as an institution. The Army Chief is hundred per cent right that no individual has right to determine interest of the country. The armed forces of Pakistan play a key role in guarding the national frontiers and securing its borders with heavy responsibility rests on their shoulders. The nation looks forward to its defence forces for protection and security in the event of foreign aggression or threat of invasion, therefore, the morale and spirit of the soldiers should be kept high. The CJP Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has expressed confidence in the role of the defence forces against external aggression, the soldiers have always lived up to their traditions whenever called upon to defend their motherland. 

Discipline is the essence of Armed forces, where laws, edicts, rules framed, hold good for the general community and if applied rigidly, the effect is lasting. No army man is going to move forward without discipline and complete obedience is the first requisite of good discipline. Therefore, any effort which wittingly or unwittingly draws a wedge between the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan undermines the larger national interest. Equally important is the trust between the leaders and the led (low tier of command) of the Armed Forces. Any effort to create a distinction between the two, undermines the very basis of this concept and is not tolerated, be it Pakistan or any other country. The on-going media trial is totally uncalled for and will cast unhealthy repercussion on the morale and discipline of serving personnel.
The country is passing through a critical stage. 

The truth is, Pakistan is in serious trouble and any misadventure will make the country is in a position of strategic peril. The whole nation needs institutional cooperation in forging unity and harmony in their files. The co-conspirators are working at the behest of foreign powers, because the enemies know they can weaken Pakistan only by weakening the Pakistan Army and ISI. Why they are trying to convert a purely legal matter into Army/ISI bashing? Dragging the military into politics would be disastrous blunder for the country, especially when Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence are still coping with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, besides facing a perennial wave of suicide attacks and assaults on the security personnels inside settled area. Additionally, Asma Jehangir, Hamid Mir and Najam Sethi are the sharpest instruments in the campaign of damaging Army and ISI in particular and creating civil-military clash in general.

All these anchorpersons are being paid hefty amounts for creating an ambiance of confrontation between the civil-military leadership leading to anarchy-like conditions in the country, through their Talk shows on TV. This environment can only advance the interests of India and the United States as Indo-US nexus considers Pakistan army/ISI a real hurdle in attaining their respective goals in the region. At this critical juncture of Pakistan chequered history, it is the duty of every patriotic and peace-loving citizen of Pakistan to stop these anti-Pakistan elements from disparaging the army and the ISI and to declare that such criticisms will do more harm than good to the Statehood. The media needs to act responsibly and there should be somebody who should come forward and say that the media should follow the ‘code of ethic’ as specified for the conduct of Journalism in the country. As the cases of nine retired military generals are sub judice, journalists should report only the facts and do not attempt to influence the proceedings of the Court, come what may. Let the court do its work.

(Khalid Khokar)

Pakistan Cyber Force

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Malala Injured–Shame on Foreign Sponsored TTP

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The National Peace Award winner, Malala Yousafzai, who was attacked in Swat, is currently under treatment in CMH Peshawar. Later, Malala were taken to Peshawar via helicopter and admitted in CMH Peshawar. It is important to mention that Malala had been receiving threats to her life, after which she was provided with a special car and unarmed security personnel. According to the electronic media reports, Indian sponsored Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) has accepted the responsibilities.

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani is in Peshawar for Malala Yusufzai. His visit speaks volumes on Pakistan Army and Malala's strong relations especially after Operation Rah-e-raast in Swat Valley.

Malala Yousaf zai is one of the best-known schoolgirls in the country. Young as she is, she has dared to do what many others do not – publicly criticise the Taliban. According to BBC, Malala’s confident, articulate campaign for girls’ education has won her admirers – and recognition – at home and abroad. She has appeared on national and international television, and spoken of her dream of a future Pakistan where education would prevail. Even by the standards of blood-soaked Pakistan, there has been shock at the shooting. It has been condemned by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, who sent a helicopter to transfer Malala to hospital in Peshawar. The head of Pakistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission, Zohra Yusuf, said “this tragic attack on this courageous child” sends a very disturbing message to all those working for women and girls.

All segments of society are praying for her health and are condemning activists, those desire to enforce their own agenda against the will of general public. Notably, the said terrorism occurred just after the long march of Imran Khan.

There could be the possibility that firing on courageous Malala has been carried out by Afghanistan sponsored anti Pakistan Taliban. CIA and her allied agencies quite notorious in using dirty tricks for completion of their own designed agenda against Pakistan and in other countries. Notably, PTI Chief Imran Khan through a peaceful conduct of “Long March” in tribal belt of Waziristan gave positive message that people of Pakistan demand that their sovereignty should be respected and killing of innocent people through drones be stopped. Thus, targeting Malala through anti Pakistan Taliban could be one of the episodes of jeopardizing local peace efforts and pressurizing Pakistan to carry out operation in North Waziristan. In this connection, there are reports that for implementation of hidden aims, especially, RAW has hired the services of many so called Muslims of Northern Afghanistan which are known as "Khawarij". Posing themselves as militants, they have joined the ranks and files of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremist outfits.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit of Islamabad in 2011, agreed with Pakistan’s stance, saying, “Now US is realising that launching new military operation in North Waziristan does not suit Pakistan’s situation.” Replying to a question that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was involved an assault on the US embassy in Kabul on September 13, 2011, she categorically pointed out, “We have no evidence.” She also requested for Pakistan’s help to “encourage Taliban to enter negotiations in good faith” including the Haqqani militants. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik and top civil and military officials have repeatedly disclosed that training camps are presence in Afghanistan, and supply of arms and ammunition to the Baloch separatists and Pakistani Taliban keeps on going by the external elements as part of a conspiracy against Pakistan.

The internal dynamics of Pakistan, however, dictate that a detailed and comprehensive strategy be formulated to cleanse areas infected by terrorism through shrewd corrective measures and judicious action with least collateral damage. Such strategy has to be indigenous one with blend of native society
We must salute to courageous daughter of Pakistan “Malala Yousaf Zai” and pray for her health, safety and unite ourselves for continuation of her innocent but beautiful dreams regarding girls’ education and rooting out of terrorism from our motherland.

By Zaheer ul Hassan
The writer can be approached through zameer36@gmail.com

Pakistan Cyber Force

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Akhtar Mengal - Latest stooge of CIA/RAW

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After passing years of self-imposed exile in London, President of the Balochistan National Party (BNA), Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal who returned to Pakistan has external and internal connections with the anti-state elements of the country. During the hearing in the Supreme Court of Pakistan in relation to the case of missing persons and deteriorating law and order situation in the province of Balochistan on September 27, Sardar Akhtar Mengal distorted the facts in his statement, while adding similar allegations against the security agencies of the country, which have continuously been leveling by the anti-Pakistan elements.

Giving a six-point solution to the Balochistan issue, Sardar Akhtar Mengal suggested to the Supreme Court that all death squads operating under the supervision of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or Military Intelligence (MI) in the province should be disbanded. He said that all missing persons which are under the custody of intelligence agencies should be produced before a court of law, and Baloch political parties should be allowed to resume their political activities without any interference from these agencies. Mengal explained that those responsible for torture, killing and dumping of bodies of Baloch political leaders and activists should be brought to justice. He further stated that military operation should be stopped in the province and measures should be taken for the displaced Balochis.

The federal government and the armed forces in a joint statement to the Supreme Court on September 28 rejected assertions of Baloch leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal, saying armed forces are neither conducting any military operation in Balochistan nor are there any death squads of intelligences agencies. The statement clearly mentioned that no missing person is in the custody of the secret agencies and every political party in Balochistan is free to work. Notably, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has also expressed similar views in his latest statement.

In fact, we can not see baseless accusations of Akhtar Mengal as mentioned in his six-point solution of Balochistan situation in isolation because these are part of a deliberate propaganda which has been accelerated by the foreign-based NGOs, human rights groups and media. With the secret support of American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mosssad which are well-penetrated in these external entities and Pakistani media are being used to implicate Pak Army and ISI including Frontier Corps (FC) regarding the human rights violations and disappeared persons.

In this regard, with the help of Baloch separatist leaders who have taken refuge in western countries, these hostile entities are perennially launching false campaign about human rights violations in Balochistan to obtain the secret strategic designs of US, India and Israel. In this respect, on February 8, 2012, the hearing of the US Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Dana Rohrabacher discussed target killings and human rights violations in Balochistan, blaming Pakistan Army and country’s intelligence agencies for extra-judicial killings. He also favoured an independent Balochistan. Earlier Dana Rohrabacher arranged a meeting in which Baloch separatist leaders participated along with the anti-Pakistan NGOs.

On July 31, 2011, a rally was organised by Baloch Human Rights Council in UK in front of the US Embassy in London, which raised false allegations such as inhuman torture and extrajudicial murder of the Baloch intellectuals by the Pakistan’s security agencies. Besides, a demonstration was held outside the United Nations in Genva on the occasion of the 19th Session of UN Human Rights Council to condemn the human rights violations in Balochistan. The demonstrators accused the Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies of extrajudicial killings. Apperently, the demonstration was organised and led by Mehran Baloch, Balochistan’s representative at the United Nations and Noordin Mengal, but in fact, it was arranged by anti-Pakistan NGOs, human rights groups and Indo-Israeli and American lobbies.

On all these occasions, Sardar Akhtar Mengal who is speaking in the tone of these foreign elements, played a key role secretly. It shows his covert liaison with US high officials and CIA. Recently, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances visited Pakistan in connection with the missing persons, especially focusing on the Province of Balochistan. In this context, during hearing, the Supreme Court has questioned on September 19, this year that when the case of missing persons is subjudice as to why the UN delegation has been invited to Pakistan.

The delegation of the UN Working Group also held meetings with the leaders of various nationalist parities to know about human rights violations and situation of missing persons, particularly of Balochistan. As the UN is under the influence of the US-led major countries, so it also raised similar allegations against Pakistan’s security agencies.

Particularly, Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is taking personal interest about the missing persons and law and order situation of Balochistan. And impressed by the foreign elements in this respect, Pakistan’s political parties and media have also been following the blame game of the US-led entities. By taking note of these phenomena, US and other anti-Pakistan elements decided to send Sardar Akhtar Mengal to Pakistan so that the aggravated situation of the province could further be internationalised.

Regrettably, Nawaz Sharif, leader of (PML-N), Syed Munawar Hasan, Ameer of Jamaat-i-Islami and Chairman Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf who have met Akhtar Mengal encouraged him in maligning country’s key security institutes in order to increase their vote bank at the cost of Pakistan’s integrity. Akhtar Mengal also seeks to take the place of Nawab Akbar Bugti by manipulating the circumstances of Balochistan.

Besides some other political figures, Akhtar Mengal also met media anchors who helped him in providing false information to misguide the general masses about the situation of Balochistan through TV channels. In fact, some of our electronic media anchors and journalists are working on the payroll of the foreign elements and thus they are creating misperceptions about Balochistan.
Reliable reports suggest that these media commentators and Baloch separatist elements including Sardar Akhtar Mengal have intermittently been invited by the US officials and participated in their secret meetings in Pakistan so as to intensify propaganda against Balochistan as part of conspiracy against the country.

Pakistan’s internal elements, especially political parties should know that the reality behind the worsening circumstances and the missing people of Balochistan is that secret agencies like CIA, RAW and Mossad which have well-established their collective network in Afghanistan are in collusion, and have perennial been supporting bomb blasts, suicide attacks, abductions, target killings, ethnic and sectarian violence in Balochistan through their affiliated militant groups such as Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundollah (God’s soldiers), Balochistan National Party led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other Baloch feudal lords (Sardars) to dismember Pakistan and Iran.

These foreign-backed insurgent groups are responsible for target killings of Punjabis, Pushtuns, people of Hazara community and patriot Balochis including Pakistani and Iranian Shias. Their subversive activities have resulted in missing persons in Balochistan. In this connection, Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik disclosed in his recent statements that he also showed proof about training camps being run in Afghanistan, and supply of arms and ammunition by the Afghan government inside Balochistan. Malik explained that separatist outfits have owned 299 terror attacks in the province in which more than 170 personnel of the FC were martyred.

Nevertheless, all these foreign-backed subversive activities indicate that situation of Balochistan cannot be improved so easily, that is why, Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal has recommended separation of the province, if his six points were not going to be implemented. These are also his pre-conditions to have dialogue with the government. In the past, he has rejected a number of offers, presented by the government to have peace talks to improve the deteriorated law and order situation of Balochistan.

Nonetheless, external and internal connections of Sardar Akhtar Mengal will further aggravate the problems of a majority of Balochis who do not want independence of Balochistan.

By Sajjad Shaukat
He writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations


Pakistan Cyber Force

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Operation in North Waziristan not imminent!

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After his meeting with General James N. Mattis, Commander US CENTCOM on 17th August, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani categorically dispelled the speculative reporting in foreign media, regarding joint operations in North Waziristan. He had reiterated: “We might, if necessary, undertake operations in NWA, in the timeframe of our choosing and requirements. It will never be a result of any outside pressure."

Yet some local commentriat and politicos started criticising civil and military leadership. Of course Civil and military leaderships are on one page in this regard that if at all operation is required to be undertaken, its timings will be decided by Pakistan and not on America’s dictation. Anyhow, final decision whether the operation would be undertaken or not will be made keeping in view the Parliament’s resolution, which exhorts to negotiate with the militants. But there is a proviso that in the event all other efforts fail then the government could resort to military action. However, people of Pakistan would have to be taken on board before any military operation is launched in North Waziristan. The question is whether all strata of society is in favour of such an operation?

The situation on ground is that business community is divided; one group opposes the military operation taking the plea it could be disastrous for the national economy. The other group wants military operation should be undertaken to eliminate terrorism and extremism in every form and manifestation, as in the presence of deteriorating law and order situation, neither foreign nor domestic investment would be forthcoming. They believe that foreign forces are occupying Afghanistan, but the worldwide view is that they are UN mandated and supported by a legitimate Afghan government.

Pakistan is facing the dilemma in that it is facing the US plus 49 other countries, and will have to ensure that Pakistan’s soil is not used by the Taliban for attacking American and NATO forces in Afghanistan. At the same time, American and NATO forces will have to take measures that Tehrik-e-Taliban fighters holed in Kunar and Nuristan are stopped from attacking Pakistan’s security forces in areas bordering Afghanistan. The fact remains that these areas are under the control of ISAF forces. The question however is whether people of Pakistan would support an operation against, what they say Haqqani network and other militant groups? Anyhow, people of Pakistan and different strata of society would have to be taken on board, and there should be a consensus on an operation if it is deemed necessary. However, the same should be undertaken after taking into consideration certain pre-requisites including the fall out of such an operation. Of course, measures would have to be taken for temporarily accommodating the people migrating from that area, and again to rehabilitate them after the operation.

According to a defence analyst, “well-planned covert operations must be undertaken to isolate the militants from the locals, though a difficult proposition till the time locals carry the impression that militants are waging ‘jihad’ against foreign forces in Afghanistan. Speedy rehabilitation and initiation of political process after successful military operation are imperatives for a permanent solution, which must be planned in advance. The experience shows that successful military operations in Swat and South Waziristan were not backed by the required political process for seeking permanent solution. Therefore, any future military operation must be preceded by creating the consensus so that political leadership takes full ownership and media is effectively used to educate the masses”. During the last four years, our forces undertook operations in Swat and South Waziristan, and since the border on Afghan side was not sealed, the terrorists went across the border to Afghanistan, and since then they are conducting terrorist activities against Pakistan with impunity from their safe-havens in Afghanistan.

One would not know if it is trust deficit or pernicious designs of the US and the NATO countries when they point their fingers of accusation towards Pakistan either for not doing enough to rein in militants or for supporting and training them. It is puerile nonsense even to imagine that Pakistan is out to destabilize Afghanistan, as Pakistan can gain immensely from stable Afghanistan. It will present tremendous business opportunities because Afghanistan will be a bridge to Central Asian republics. If one dispassionately evaluates and examines the prevailing situation it is not difficult to draw conclusion that detractors of Pakistan have coalesced as their interests converge in the region. It goes without saying that India would be the greatest beneficiary if the gulf between two brotherly Muslim countries widens.

The US should review its policy and try to identify the causes for violence in Afghanistan, and address the issues. According to Nathaniel Fick, who served as a Marine officer in Afghanistan during the first year of the war and was again sent to Afghanistan to do research for the Centre for a New American Security said: “Based on what we heard while we were there, a lot of these guys are involved in the insurgency for economic reasons first and ideological reasons secondly”. There is no industry to create employment opportunities to the jobless, and no serious effort has been made by various governments to promote agriculture. This leaves the unemployed at the mercy of militants who look after them better than the state because of their income from drug-trafficking. During the last 11 years, warlords had a free hand to amass wealth by encouraging poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and were also involved in drug-trafficking under American and NATO forces’watch.

By Muhammed Jamil

Pakistan Cyber Force

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The Indo-Pak War of 1965 - When the Nation wrote its Destiny

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The Indian forces intruded into Pakistani area in the Rann of Kutch in April 1965. In a sharp and short conflict, the Indian forces were ejected. Both the armies had fully mobilized, with eyeball to eyeball contact. Pakistan proposed cease-fire, India accepted. An agreement was signed: the forces disengaged. The Award by the Arbitration Tribunal vindicated Pakistan 's Position.

Past midnight on 5/6 September, without a formal declaration of war, Indian Army crossed the international border and attacked Lahore and Kasur fronts. Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force halted the attack in its tracks, inflicting heavy casualties on the aggressor. On 7 September a single Pakistan Air Force Pilot, Squadron Leader M.M. Alam, Sitara-i-Juraat, in his F-86 Sabre shot down five Indian Air Force attacking Hunter aircraft in a single sortie, an unbeaten world record “On night 6/7 September three teams of our Special Services Groups were para-dropped on Indian Air Force bases at Pathankot, Adampur and Halwara to neutralize them.

To relieve pressure on Lahore front, on night 7/8 September, after crossing two major water obstacles in a bold thrust, Pakistani armoured and mechanized formations supported by artillery and Pakistan Air Force overran area Khem Karn, 6 to 8 miles inside Indian territory. Vital Indian positions at Sulemanki and across Rajasthan and Sindh were also captured in bold, swift attacks.
     
On night 7/8 September, 1 Corps of Indian Army launched its main effort east of Sialkot with one armoured and three infantry divisions on our extended 15 Division front, screened only by gallant 3 Frontier Force and B Company 13 Frontier Force (Reconnaissance & Support). 24 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier A.A Malik, Hilal-i-Juraat) on the move in area Pasrur, rushed 25 Cavalry (Lieutenant Colonel Nisar Ahmad, Sitara-i-Juraat), on 8 September to delay and disrupt enemy thrusts. As soon as the presence of Indian 1 Armoured Division was confirmed, Pakistan Army rushed forward to stop the onslaught on a 30-mile front. The biggest tank battle since World War II was fought on the Chwinda front by 6 Armoured Division with under command 24 Infantry Brigade Groups and valiantly supported by 4 Corps Artillery (Brigadier A.A.K. Choudhry, Hilal-i-Juraat). The main effort of the Indian Army was blunted, inflicting heavy and troop casualties. Pakistan Air Force support helped turn the tide of the battle. Before a counter offensive by 6 Armoured Division on 22 September could be launched, Indian asked for cease-fire in the United Nations. India 's aggression against our international borders without a formal declaration of war had cost it, apart from heavy personnel, material land economic losses, 1617 sq. miles of territory as compared to 446 sq. miles of our open and undefended territory. Pakistan Army captured 20 officers, 19 Junior Commissioned Officers, and 569 Other Ranks.

The Indian forces intruded into Pakistani area in the Rann of Kutch in April 1965. In a sharp and short conflict, the Indian forces were ejected. Both the armies had fully mobilized, with eyeball to eyeball contact. Pakistan proposed cease-fire, India accepted. An agreement was signed: the forces disengaged. The Award by the Arbitration Tribunal vindicated Pakistan 's Position.

Past midnight on 5/6 September, without a formal declaration of war, Indian Army crossed the international border and attacked Lahore and Kasur fronts. Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force halted the attack in its tracks, inflicting heavy casualties on the aggressor. On 7 September a single Pakistan Air Force Pilot, Squadron Leader M.M. Alam, Sitara-i-Juraat, in his F-86 Sabre shot down five Indian Air Force attacking Hunter aircraft in a single sortie, an unbeaten world record “On night 6/7 September three teams of our Special Services Groups were para-dropped on Indian Air Force bases at Pathankot, Adampur and Halwara to neutralize them.

To relieve pressure on Lahore front, on night 7/8 September, after crossing two major water obstacles in a bold thrust, Pakistani armoured and mechanized formations supported by artillery and Pakistan Air Force overran area Khem Karn, 6 to 8 miles inside Indian territory. Vital Indian positions at Sulemanki and across Rajasthan and Sindh were also captured in bold, swift attacks. 
  
On night 7/8 September, 1 Corps of Indian Army launched its main effort east of Sialkot with one armoured and three infantry divisions on our extended 15 Division front, screened only by gallant 3 Frontier Force and B Company 13 Frontier Force (Reconnaissance & Support). 24 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier A.A Malik, Hilal-i-Juraat) on the move in area Pasrur, rushed 25 Cavalry (Lieutenant Colonel Nisar Ahmad, Sitara-i-Juraat), on 8 September to delay and disrupt enemy thrusts. As soon as the presence of Indian 1 Armoured Division was confirmed, Pakistan Army rushed forward to stop the onslaught on a 30-mile front. The biggest tank battle since World War II was fought on the Chwinda front by 6 Armoured Division with under command 24 Infantry Brigade Groups and valiantly supported by 4 Corps Artillery (Brigadier A.A.K. Choudhry, Hilal-i-Juraat). The main effort of the Indian Army was blunted, inflicting heavy and troop casualties. Pakistan Air Force support helped turn the tide of the battle. Before a counter offensive by 6 Armoured Division on 22 September could be launched, Indian asked for cease-fire in the United Nations. India 's aggression against our international borders without a formal declaration of war had cost it, apart from heavy personnel, material land economic losses, 1617 sq. miles of territory as compared to 446 sq. miles of our open and undefended territory. Pakistan Army captured 20 officers, 19 Junior Commissioned Officers, and 569 Other Ranks.

1965 War, the Inside Story by R.D. Pradhan:
 
In Chapter 8 titled “Of Cowardice and Panic”, the author describes the cowardice of Maj. Gen. Niranjan Prasad, the Indian general commanding officer in Lahore sector. When the general was fired
 upon by Pakistani forces, he “ran away”. On learning that, Lt. Gen. Harbakash Singh and the corps commander drove in a Jonga to the battlefront. Army commander found that the enemy (PAF) air attack had created a havoc on G.T. Road. (Indian) Vehicles were burning and several vehicles of 15 Division abandoned on the road, the drivers having run away, leaving some of the engines still running. Maj. Gen. Niranjan Prasad was hiding in a recently irrigated sugar cane field.

As described by Harabakash Singh: “He (Prasad) came out to receive us, with his boots covered with wet mud. He had no head cover, nor was he wearing any badges of his rank. He had stubble on his face, not having shaved.” Seeing him in such a stage, Harbakhash Singh asked him: “Whether he was the General Officer commanding a division or a coolie? Why had he removed badges of rank and not shaved? Niranjan Prasad had no answer.”

Our Armed Forces are doing their duty more than well to this very day, but the question is, are we?

Pakistan Cyber Force

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