Today's papers carry the news that the NATO Chief has said that the attack on Pakistani soldiers was un-intentional. Very generous of him!!
Yesterday, a friend of mine talked to a retired Army officer from Peshawar. He had just visited CMH Peshawar to meet the wounded in Salah Post by the US/NATO raid on night of 26 November. This is what he told me.
"There were 14 wounded lying in the surgical ward suffering a variety of wounds. I talked to every one of them and asked them what had happened. The crux of the account of the soldiers and officers was that at about 11pm on 26th Nov a light aircraft came from across the border, flew over the post and fired flares and returned. About half an hour later armed helicopters and light aircraft came. They again fired flares and began firing at the men. They remained in the area for about 5 – 6 hours. During this time, the helicopter fired at individual personnel at will. The post had only one 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun which opened fire. The gunner was shot. The major on the post took up the gun and began firing at the helicopters. He was fired at again. While changing position he was hit by a rocket or missile. His body was blasted to pieces. Only his name-plate was found.
Everyone on the post was killed or wounded. They seemed to be in no hurry and going after each individual separately. Having finished the entire post, they peaceably went back without any casualty on their part.
And the NATO Chief has the effrontery to say that it was un-intentional.
Now my question is, if for 5 to 6 hours this enemy action was taking place and our ground troops were under such deliberate enemy fire, where was the Army's reaction and where was the PAF during all this time? I cannot believe that the Corps HQ or the PAF Northern Command in Peshawar did not know what was going on,on the front. If so, both should be disbanded for deliberate incompetence."
NATO Attack Relieves Zardari's 'Memogate' Pressure
Zardari has excellent relations with US. The steam has been taken off the Memogate by the well planned and co-ordinated American air attack in Mohmand Agency which martyred 25 Pak soldiers while they were asleep-- including 2 officers of an AK Regt. One post was a company HQ. There were no Taliban anywhere near them.
The NATO now says they were fired upon first. A blatant lie as Pak Army has no weapon which can engage gunship helicopters at night which fire from a slant range of 4000 Meters. The American Stinger missiles ( which I suppose have over-lived their shelf life and are useless now) can only be fired during day time as their acquisition is by naked eye-sight. So clearly the only motive of this attack was to demoralise Pak Army/ pressurise Pakistan on one end and creating a diversion from Memogate; ( due to public outcry against the attack), thus relieving pressure from Zardari.
Why did not the highest authorities of Pakistan (Civil and Army ) declare this attack as an act of war against Pakistan and immediately severed our diplomatic relations with US and NATO countries besides recalling own diplomats from these countries? Even now our higher ups are saying "this will not be accepted next time" or words to this affect. Similar words were used when US forces violated Pak air space and raided Osama in Abbotabad (Osama was never there in the first place... anyone wants details can search the US media reports of that time). The NATO containers had carried the helicopters and their missiles all through Pakistan to Afghanistan.. only to use the same on our sleeping soldiers.
We also must enquire as to why our troops were sleeping in the open and not in their trenches / bunkers where they should have been while deployed on the border. Some military heads should also roll and our troops training re-considered.
I pray to Allah to give some "ghairat" to our leaders so that we can live an honourable life
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