In November 2007 there was a suicide attack on a PAF bus close to Sargodha airbase and in December same year, a lone suicide bomber penetrated the heavy security cordon to attack facilities at Kamra. In August 2008 there were suicide attacks on several entry points to the facilities at Wah. All these places house valuable strategic assets. It was these incidents that raised international concerns as is clearly mentioned in the research paper authored by Ken Berry – a Research Coordinator commissioned by the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (P 14). The paper is available online. Later, in October 2009, terrorists attacked GHQ.
Ignoring all such occurrences, retired officers from the two other services have found an easy scapegoat in PN. A concerted effort seems to be underway in print and electronic media aimed at bashing PN. Everyone appears to have become expert in naval affairs. Is it meant to shove the events of May 2 under carpet? While the public at large is justified in raising questions or objectively criticising, it is rather unfair for the other services to become the judge, the jury and executioner.
COMMANDER (RETD) M AZAM KHAN
Lahore