Pakistan military on 'Red Alert'
Pakistan media is reporting that the country's military is on high alert over a possible strike by India's forces.
Monday's reports come after a ratcheting up of tension between the two countries following attacks in Mumbai last month which killed 163 people.
Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Pakistan, said the local media attributed its reports to military sources, who were confirming that all three armed forces including the navy, air force and army were on red alert.
"The Pakistani air force have been seen visibly in a number of locations flying close to the Pakistani-India border in what is being described as an aggressive patrolling mode, following reports that India is planning pre-emptive strikes against locations in Pakistan.
"Also chiefs of the three forces are right now meeting in what is being described as an emergency meeting in general headquarters in Rawalpindi," Hyder said.
"Only after the meeting is over we would come to know if it is a red alert or a heightened state of alert."
Hyder said that observers are saying that the Congress party in India has lost a great deal of prestige due to the Mumbai attacks and therefore may try a show of strength in Pakistan.
Delayed civilian flights
The Reuters news agency quoted a Pakistan airline official as saying the Pakistani air force conducted an exercise on Monday causing delay to two civilian flights.
"Two of our flights were delayed for some time because the PAF was conducting some exercises but now everything is back on normal," said Muhammad Latif, a spokesman for the airlines.
The flights were delayed at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore, near the Indian border, Latif said, while dismissing television news channel reports of a high alert at Pakistani airports.
An air force spokesman declined to comment when asked about an exercise saying only: "In view of the current environment, the PAF has enhanced its vigilance."
Divya Gopalan, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Srinagar, in Indian controlled Kashmir, said that the Indian media is looking at Monday's reports with some degree of skepticism.
"They are saying that Pakistan is creating an artificial war hysteria to divert attention from the fact that they are under pressure from the Indian security services to deal with the Mumbai terror attacks."
'No red alerts'
Asad Durrani, the former head of Pakistani intelligence, told Al Jazeera that Pakistan was asked to do more to deal with individuals behind the Mumbai attacks and dismissed the notion that the two states were on the brink of conflict.
"I think the media is building up a scenario in which one may get the impression that we are close to war.
"This is not the stage that the two forces are going to go on that sort of alert."
But Brigadier General Naeem Salik, a retired Pakistani military analyst, told Al Jazera from Islamabad: "There have been very threatening statements [from India] saying that they do not rule out military options, and they have been talking about punishing Pakistan.
"So it is obviously natural for Pakistan to heighten its alert levels and be on guard. We cannot let the Indians have a free-run and it is a response to what is happening across the borders."
Ravi Sawhney, an Indian security analyst, told Al Jazeera: "It is not threatening talk at all. It is talking facts. We have been assaulted. A terror attack was launched on us. And the perpetrators of that attack were Pakistanis.
"So we have have been telling Pakistan very gently, very firmly, to take action against these people, who committed this heinous crime in Bombay."
"There has a been a flip-flop that has lasted about 10 or 15 days, so our government has told the Pakistanis to please take action, otherwise all options are on the table."
'Introspection'
Both Sawhney and Salik said that their countries needed "introspection" to simmer the rising tensions.
"In my view, Pakistan needs some introspection. We have one man who is already in our custody who has given irrefutable evidence that he is Pakistani," Sawhney said.
"They should start looking inward and take action against the jihadis and terrorists, not only for our and the international community's sake, but for their own sake."
Salik said: "Talking of introspection, I think it's needed on both sides. There have been incidents of serving Indian military officers involved in the bombing of a Pakistan-bound train in which 68 Pakistanis were killed.
"So, there is an equal need for introspect from the other side as well.
"If we keep blaming others for our own internal problems, then we are going to get nowhere. We both need to talk to each other and co-operate rather than threaten each other."
Pakistan last week summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Islamabad to protest against recent alleged airspace violations by Indian warplanes.
Indian fighter jets had crossed into Pakistani airspace over Kashmir and Punjab province, the government said on December 13.
Pakistan said its own fighter jets were scrambled to chase off the intruders, but it also played down the incident by describing the violations as "technical" and "inadvertent".
India denied any violation of Pakistani airspace.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Monday's reports come after a ratcheting up of tension between the two countries following attacks in Mumbai last month which killed 163 people.
Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Pakistan, said the local media attributed its reports to military sources, who were confirming that all three armed forces including the navy, air force and army were on red alert.
"The Pakistani air force have been seen visibly in a number of locations flying close to the Pakistani-India border in what is being described as an aggressive patrolling mode, following reports that India is planning pre-emptive strikes against locations in Pakistan.
"Also chiefs of the three forces are right now meeting in what is being described as an emergency meeting in general headquarters in Rawalpindi," Hyder said.
"Only after the meeting is over we would come to know if it is a red alert or a heightened state of alert."
Hyder said that observers are saying that the Congress party in India has lost a great deal of prestige due to the Mumbai attacks and therefore may try a show of strength in Pakistan.
Delayed civilian flights
The Reuters news agency quoted a Pakistan airline official as saying the Pakistani air force conducted an exercise on Monday causing delay to two civilian flights.
"Two of our flights were delayed for some time because the PAF was conducting some exercises but now everything is back on normal," said Muhammad Latif, a spokesman for the airlines.
The flights were delayed at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore, near the Indian border, Latif said, while dismissing television news channel reports of a high alert at Pakistani airports.
An air force spokesman declined to comment when asked about an exercise saying only: "In view of the current environment, the PAF has enhanced its vigilance."
Divya Gopalan, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Srinagar, in Indian controlled Kashmir, said that the Indian media is looking at Monday's reports with some degree of skepticism.
"They are saying that Pakistan is creating an artificial war hysteria to divert attention from the fact that they are under pressure from the Indian security services to deal with the Mumbai terror attacks."
'No red alerts'
Asad Durrani, the former head of Pakistani intelligence, told Al Jazeera that Pakistan was asked to do more to deal with individuals behind the Mumbai attacks and dismissed the notion that the two states were on the brink of conflict.
"I think the media is building up a scenario in which one may get the impression that we are close to war.
"This is not the stage that the two forces are going to go on that sort of alert."
But Brigadier General Naeem Salik, a retired Pakistani military analyst, told Al Jazera from Islamabad: "There have been very threatening statements [from India] saying that they do not rule out military options, and they have been talking about punishing Pakistan.
"So it is obviously natural for Pakistan to heighten its alert levels and be on guard. We cannot let the Indians have a free-run and it is a response to what is happening across the borders."
Ravi Sawhney, an Indian security analyst, told Al Jazeera: "It is not threatening talk at all. It is talking facts. We have been assaulted. A terror attack was launched on us. And the perpetrators of that attack were Pakistanis.
"So we have have been telling Pakistan very gently, very firmly, to take action against these people, who committed this heinous crime in Bombay."
"There has a been a flip-flop that has lasted about 10 or 15 days, so our government has told the Pakistanis to please take action, otherwise all options are on the table."
'Introspection'
Both Sawhney and Salik said that their countries needed "introspection" to simmer the rising tensions.
"In my view, Pakistan needs some introspection. We have one man who is already in our custody who has given irrefutable evidence that he is Pakistani," Sawhney said.
"They should start looking inward and take action against the jihadis and terrorists, not only for our and the international community's sake, but for their own sake."
Salik said: "Talking of introspection, I think it's needed on both sides. There have been incidents of serving Indian military officers involved in the bombing of a Pakistan-bound train in which 68 Pakistanis were killed.
"So, there is an equal need for introspect from the other side as well.
"If we keep blaming others for our own internal problems, then we are going to get nowhere. We both need to talk to each other and co-operate rather than threaten each other."
Pakistan last week summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Islamabad to protest against recent alleged airspace violations by Indian warplanes.
Indian fighter jets had crossed into Pakistani airspace over Kashmir and Punjab province, the government said on December 13.
Pakistan said its own fighter jets were scrambled to chase off the intruders, but it also played down the incident by describing the violations as "technical" and "inadvertent".
India denied any violation of Pakistani airspace.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Pakistan AirForce on Red Alert
The Pakistan Air Force today scrambled its jets over Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi in what is being seen as a clear warning to India after the recent spate of immature statements from the politicians of that country as well as the recent military buildup in Rajasthan, India.
In their recent comments, Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee have failed to rule out military action on Pakistan territory.
The PAF has come out strongly to let the nation know that they are ready to defend the nation, and to let the Indians know that any air incursions into Pakistan territory will not go unchallenged.
A ‘red-alert’ was declared at Lahore airport delaying some flights as upto 30 PAF jets (hot mode) patrolled the skies over Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Residents of Lahore came out in to the streets and chanted slogans in favour of PAF. Many climbed on their roofs for a better look as the planes flew extremely low carrying their weapons.
This comes after the aborted attempt by the Indian Air Force last week to take out the Jama’at ud Dawa headquarters at Muridke and the abandoned Lashkar camp in Muzaffarabad. PAF jets chased them back over the border on that occasion.
In their recent comments, Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee have failed to rule out military action on Pakistan territory.
The PAF has come out strongly to let the nation know that they are ready to defend the nation, and to let the Indians know that any air incursions into Pakistan territory will not go unchallenged.
A ‘red-alert’ was declared at Lahore airport delaying some flights as upto 30 PAF jets (hot mode) patrolled the skies over Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Residents of Lahore came out in to the streets and chanted slogans in favour of PAF. Many climbed on their roofs for a better look as the planes flew extremely low carrying their weapons.
This comes after the aborted attempt by the Indian Air Force last week to take out the Jama’at ud Dawa headquarters at Muridke and the abandoned Lashkar camp in Muzaffarabad. PAF jets chased them back over the border on that occasion.
Comments
Meanwhile, the ex-Army Chief of Pakistan General (R) Aslam Baig has said that US General Mullen is pressing our authorities to allow India to hit certain targets, keeping silent and indifferent to the situation as they have been doing in case of US attacks, which he believes, will cool down India and diffuse tensions between the two countries.
I don’t think that conscientious Pakistani nation and brave armed forces of Pakistan will accept such a situation. This will be shameful and render Pakistan submission to India,” the retired General said. While talking to the Nawa-i-Waqt/The Nation.
He further said that the nation would lose its confidence in their government and the armed forces for ever and the nation would stand no where, should such a situation prevailed. He called upon the rulers to explain their position in this regard.
He said that the US was after ridiculing the sovereignty of Pakistan only to please India and Mullen had come with a dangerous message.
“We are ten times more powerful than in 1965 and twenty times stronger than we were in 1971,” the General said.
Reports coming in from variuos sources suggest that Pakistan Army Chief Gen.Kiyani yesterday made it clear that regardless of how the civilan government chooses to respond to the US request to allow Indian ’surgical strikes’, Pakistan Army will not accept any Indian intrusion. The scrambling of jets over Lahore and Islamabad yesterday was part of this and the armed forces are alert and ready to defend against any Indian action.
Kiyani is also said to have told Michael Mullen that in event of any aggression from India, the US and NATO can ‘forget about’ using Pakistan territory to supply their forces in Afghanistan as all resources will be diverted to defending against India on the eastern border.
Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh’s statement, that war was not the most preferred option, notwithstanding, the military has stepped up preparation for a possible confrontation with Pakistan.
Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor rushed to Siachen on Tuesday(23 Dec 08), while the navy summoned the chief of its Mumbai-based western command to Delhi.
Indian Army sources said Kapoor’s unscheduled visit was to review security. He was to be briefed by the Siachen Brigade Commander and Chief of the Leh-based 14 Corps, which guards the Kargil Heights and Siachen.
Meanwhile, the combat units of the Indian army continue to be on high alert, and ready for mobilisation. The units have stepped up quick reaction team activities around their present locations and along the border.
The Indian Border Security Force, too, has stepped up alert.
Sources said vice-admiral JS Bedi, chief of the Western Naval Command, was summoned to Delhi to review security preparedness.
The command guards the Arabian Sea. In case of war, it will lead the naval offensive against Pakistan. The navy is already in a state of high alert, with almost two dozen warships aggressively deployed off Mumbai.
There is no official word, but sources said all three forces are in a state of preparedness to carry out any decision the government takes. The forces have reduced leaves, put all units on the highest alert and are ready for both offensive and defensive actions.
The Pakistan military too is in a state of high alert. Sources said Pakistani forces are constantly monitoring Indian movements. On Monday, Pakistan air force fighter planes demonstrated their preparedness over Lahore and Rawalpindi.
Security Officials of Pakistan Wednesday provided Substantial proof to US Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Admiral Mullen regarding Indian War Preparations and Surgical Strikes Projects.
Military Sources informed that US Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Admiral Mullen was clear-cut told by Military Leadership that we will not accept any reason of Indian attack adding in case of aggression, 120,000 Army troops would be called back from Western border.
Sources further said that Military leadership told Admiral Mullen that Pakistan is fully capable to thwart any aggression from India.
On the demand of Military Leadership, US Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Admiral Mullen will ask Indian Government to provide Substantial proof concerning any Pakistan institution involvement in Mumbai terrorist Attacks.
On the other hand, Evidences concerning India’s financial assistance along with supplying arms and ammunition to Terrorist Groups in Tribal Areas and Balochistan has been given to US Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Admiral Mullen.
Admiral Mullen was further told to solicit India to stop using Indian Consulates in Afghanistan against Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan began moving thousands of troops away from the Afghan border toward India on Friday amid tensions following the Mumbai attacks, intelligence officials said.
The move represents a sharp escalation in the standoff between the nuclear-armed neighbors and will hurt Pakistan’s U.S.-backed campaign against al-Qaida and Taliban taking place near Afghanistan’s border.
Two intelligence officials said the army’s 14th Division was being redeployed to Kasur and Sialkot, close to the Indian border. They said some 20,000 troops were on the move. Earlier Friday, a security official said that all troop leave had been canceled.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Indian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Friday with the chiefs of the army, navy and air force to discuss “the prevailing security situation,” according to an official statement.
An Associated Press reporter in Dera Ismail Khan, a district that borders the Afghan-frontier province of South Waziristan, said he saw around 40 trucks loaded with soldiers heading away from the Afghan border.
India is blaming Pakistan-based militants for last month’s attacks on Mumbai. Islamabad has said it will cooperate in any probe, but says it has seen no evidence backing up India’s claims.
Pakistan and India have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947. They came close to a fourth in 2001 after suspected Pakistani militants attacked India’s parliament. Both countries rushed troops to the disputed Kashmir region but tensions cooled after intensive international diplomacy.
The neighbors have said they want to avoid military conflict this time around, but Pakistan has promised to respond aggressively if India uses force, an option the Indian government has not ruled out.
Pakistan has deployed more than 100,000 soldiers in Waziristan and other northwestern regions to fight Islamic militants blamed for surging violence against Western troops in Afghanistan.
The United States has givens millions of dollars in aid to Pakistan’s army to fight the militants in the region, which is believed to be a hiding place for Osama bin Laden and other top al-Qaida leaders.
A senior security official refused to comment directly on Friday’s troop movements, but said,
“Necessary defensive measures have been taken, they are in place and Pakistan’s armed forces are prepared to tackle any eventuality.”
He asked his name not be used, citing the sensitivity of the situation
By SEBASTIAN ABBOT