Why was Pakistan Navy, responsible for safeguarding the 1,046 km long coastal belt of Pakistan, targeted? This is the question being asked after repeated attacks on Navy in Karachi.
The 35-000 strong Naval personal has little experience of fighting on ground. Was this the reason it was targeted? Pakistan Air Force also does not have such experience. Why wasn’t it targeted?
One of the reasons being given for the attack is that Navy had punished some of its officials for being linked to Al Qaeda. A militant organization demanded that orders for these punishments be withdrawn. When this demand was not accepted, Navy was attacked, it is said.
Were these naval officials, who were accused of collecting funds for Al Qaeda, so important that militant leaders will expose themselves in trying to get their punishments reversed? These people were handed down 15-year sentences, which is nothing to militants. Then, these people were not detained at the base which was attacked.
Another reason stated for the attack on Navy is that its security is not as strict as is enjoyed by personnel of other forces. This argument is wrong because the residential colonies of armed forces personnel also do not have very tight security. Then there are Machine Tool Factory, Heavy Mechanical Complex and atomic power plant in Karachi. All these have lax security. Why weren’t they attacked?
Some people say that the attack was aimed at destroying the capacity of Pakistan Navy. This seems to be probable because the assailants attacked the planes that could fly for 24 continuous hours and had the capacity to attack warships or submarines. This seems to be probable also because the assailants ignored the C-130 and other planes present there. Destroying these planes reduced Pakistan Navy’s capacity by 80 percent. Pakistan had faced a lot of opposition from the American Congress and India. Although the United States government gave these planes to Pakistan for its being the most important ally in “the war against terrorism”, Pakistan has no arrangement to get these planes repaired if any fault arises. These planes had made Pakistan Navy very strong.
A source told The News Tribe on the condition of anonymity that these planes had the capacity to provide information to the command and control system from above the sea about the submarines present in the sea. These planes had the capacity to fly up to Calcutta even if two of their engines were not used. This is a great loss indeed for Pakistan. India also has such planes but these were much inferior to those of Pakistan that have been destroyed.
Did the organization that is behind the attacks want the confidence of the nation in its forces to vanish? Was the attack aimed to create doubts about Pakistan’s capacity to guard its nuclear arsenal? Was the attack aimed at forcing Pakistan, an impoverished country, to spend more resources to acquire this capacity anew? Was the attack aimed to weaken the stance of Pakistan’s ISI which had become very assertive after the arrest of Raymond Davis? Or was the attack aimed to increase pressure on Pakistan to launch an operation in North Waziristan? The United States must have monitored the movement of the assailants with the help of its latest satellites. Why doesn’t it share this information with Pakistan?
This matter is not so simple that authorities can get away by blaming Al Qaeda or any other organization. The authorities must go through the labour of intensive investigation to find out the facts. Many questions remain unanswered. They will have to be answered
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription