Kamra is one of the most important PAF complexes in Pakistan. It houses aircraft rebuild factory and PAF Base Minhas. The base from where most of the sorties to attack Taliban in FATA area are generated. Attack on the facility by terrorists belonging to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is quite understandable. TTP spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan has accepted the responsibility for the failed attack. It was at about 2 O’clock in the morning on Ramadan 27 that the terrorist crossed into the base.
They were immediately spotted and engaged by soldiers on guard duty. In this first encounter Sepoy Muhammad Asif embraced shahadat but in the process terrorists were identified and contained. Defense mechanism of the base reacted efficiently and eliminated the terrorists within about two and a half hours. Operation on ground was led by Base Commander Air Commodore Muhammad Azam, who also sustained injury but survived. It was a job well-done by the base security establishment for which they deserve to be congratulated.
Although one can draw comfort from the fact that the security within the parameter of the defense establishment was up to mark but unfortunately it was equally frail out side the parameter. For this, failing intelligence agencies alone cannot be blamed. In fact, Ministry of Interior had already issued warning of the impending attack. It would be reasonable to assume that the intelligence agencies after providing initial information must be looking for these terrorists all-over the place. However, their capacity to perform such a task is limited due to resource constrain. The terrorist network has made its ingress in our social fiber; therefore, they can easily find sympathizers.
This has been made possible by calling war on terror as American war, thereby, inducing dissent in the minds of uneducated and simple Pakistani’s. This is what General Kayani was referring to while addressing the Azadi Parade at Pakistan Military Academy once he said that it is not Army alone but the whole nation has to fight against the menace of terrorism and extremism.
Certain political parties and individuals are reinforcing this way of thinking to suit their own agenda. That adds to the difficulties of the state and that of the Armed Forces. General Kayani categorically termed war on terror as Pakistan’s war and pointed out that if the nation fails to develop consensus on the issue that may lead to civil war. That is the degree of gravity of the issue.
This incident also calls for immediate attention on two other important issues. Firstly, appropriate legislations needs to be enacted to deal with the terrorists and secondly, up gradation of civil and police surveillance system. We have number of examples where confirmed terrorists could not be punished due to the want of evidence tenable in the court of law. These rogue organisations have created so much of deterrence that most of the witnesses out of the fear for their lives opt not to give evidence before the court. Under such circumstances it becomes extremely difficult for the courts to hand out punishments to the criminals. To address such situations in future necessary legislations must be enacted at priority.
Terrorists don’t operate from nowhere. They move from one point to another and need logistic support to sustain themselves. Their movement can be traced if police could install a digital monitoring system to monitor the movement of automobiles by installing cameras at important road junctions. Such systems are operative in the population centers and on the highways of developed countries. We also need to upgrade our monitoring system to ward off such happenings.
Certain newspapers have used the incident to create hype about Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals. It is surprising how they came to know that such weapons were stored at the base, especially so, when no such thing exists there. Such news items are part of the disinformation that these ill intending sources want to create about Pakistan. These sources want to project Pakistan as a weak state incapable of defending itself. We need to understand the malice behind such news items.
The regrettable incident of attack on Kamra has amply demonstrated that our security forces are fully alert and ready to face the challenge. Their success in the war on terror entirely depends on the support from the people of Pakistan as no war can be won without the support of the people.