PNS Mehran Attack/ Lessons for India
The Combined task force 150 which had 16 countries originally is now reduced to 7 countries namely USA,UK, Canada,Denmark,France, Germany, and Pakistan. The current head of task force is French Admiral Jean Keringnard. Though main logistics are established in Djibouti , the air operations are mostly carried out from Karachi PNS Mehran naval station and also air crafts based in carriers of Task force 150.
Pakistani Chief of Task force 150
After Operation enduring freedom was started in 2001, General Musharaff placed at disposal
of Americans the PNS Mehran Naval airbase. This was further cemented in the year 2004, When US Defence Security co-operation Agency gifted 3 PC3 Orion naval surveillance air crafts which were placed in this Karachi airbase. The Americans have promised gifts of 4 more P3C Orion's which are yet to arrive.The PNS Mehran had the following squadrons.
1.Atlantic Squadron (29 sqn)
2.Fokker Squadron (27 sqn)
3.Sea King helicopter squadron (111 sqn)
4.Alloutte squadron ( 333 sqn)
5. P3C squadron ( 28 sqn)
May be as per guidelines of US Defence security co-operation agreement, the US naval air arm personnel were located here. This is a lesson for India also as our Air force has steadfastly refused to sign this agreement which allows American Defence personnel to
station themselves in Indian Air force bases and keep an eye on every thing unlike Russians, French or Britishers who have supplied aircrafts to India. The Indian political leadership pushed for it due to strong Pro American lobby operating in both UPA II and NDA. the western seminarists and their Indian fellow travellers even suggested Indian navy joining Task force 150!!!Indian navy cannot even protect our fishermen in Palk strait but seminarists wanted role in blue waters!
Now the attack on this highly guarded base was carried out by trained commandos is known to all knowledgeable observers. Who are these commandos? Who trained them? who provided the sophisticated arms and explosives? and finally what is the purpose of this attack? This is the question which should bother Indians and also the thinking Pakistanis.
To me this operation was carried out by the dreaded 313 Brigade working under the command of ex/SSG officer Ilays Kashmiri. Why this attack on this 28 Sqn air crafts only? They never attacked the other air crafts nor the Air-force assets located in Base Faisal within the same complex. To me this operation was carried out by the elements in Pakistani navy who are suspicious of the American activity through the P3 C Orion's. They know Americans have sophisticated sensors and tapes through which the Pakistanis themselves helped in locating Chinese Nuclear assets after the Sinkiang 1964 blast of China. They must be suspicious of
the P3 C Orions making local flights in the guise “maintenance”,”training” etc and flying into land territory which none in the Pakistan Nuclear command liked . So they wanted it to be ended. May be the attack on Naval personnel was a warning, which might have been ignored. This attack was carried out by only 6 commandos (unlike intital 30 )and the the initial reports suggested a hostage situation after the destruction of the two P3 Orions. The Pakistani Home Minister talked about the escape of 2 terrorists and may be the Americans or Chinese who were staying inside the base were the hostages and a release was secured after the safe passage for the two terrorists.This is only a surmise.
This is not one of those routine terrorist strikes but a sophisticated commando operation which required meticulous planning, training, weapon procurement and inside information. One can say the operation was similar to 26/11 or Indian Parliament attack. So what should India learn from this?
1.There is a civil war like situation slowly developing with the lower ranks of Military almost revolting against the Senior officer cadre.
2.I have seen some Indians especially Americans of Indian origin crowing about the Pakistan
discomfiture.
3.A similar type of operation can easily be launched by the very same elements in India against
our a)Nuclear installations
b) Indian Air force stations
c) Ammunition depots which are located in populated areas
d)Missile locations and also locations of assets of ISRO etc
e) Civilian assets like that of Infosys,Wipros,TCS which creat wealth for India
f) Oil rigs and Oil storage locations like the one at Jaipur near Airfield which created lot of havoc after a fire caused by negligence.
Let Indian political leadership show maturity in speech when dealing with Pakistan while
keeping our powder dry and also taking adequate precautions for a commando type attack
by practising and delegating authority for each location instead of waiting for NSG from Delhi to arrive every time and situation where MARCOS, the commandos of navy wanted a written authority from an IAS officer and not a police officer.!!They were found wanting in their training in dealing with 4 well trained enemies who were occupying high ground in Taj hotel.Hope they have
adequate training now to deal with similar situation. The Pakistani nation is wounded after the Abbotobad raid and now this. Let Indians show maturity during this time and also keep our alert really credible by adequate training to local Police; Yes Local Police.
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