India ready to strike at Pakistan: US report
Saturday December 20, 2008 (1253 PST)
NEW DELHI: India may have ruled out the military option against Pakistan in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks but the international intelligence community continues to believe that strikes in kashmir and specific targets could still happen.
Global intelligence service Stratfor, in its latest report, said, "Indian military operations against targets in Pakistan have in fact been prepared and await the signal to go forward."
It added, "These most likely would take the form of unilateral precision strikes inside Kashmir, along with special forces action on the ground in Pakistan proper."
Meanwhile sources close to Pakistan defence said that Pakistan arm forces are fully capable and ready of defending mother land and any strikes or assault on Pakistan will be dealt with stern and appropriate reaction.
The private sector intelligence service said that unlike the massive movements of 2002 during Operation Parakram, India`s preparations this time were more under the radar and not visible to the world at large. Its only indication was the fact that the Border Security Force (BSF) has been put on high alert on the western sector as well as the eastern sector — this paramilitary force`s main mandate would be to prevent infiltration.
"Sources have indicated to Stratfor that New Delhi is going through the diplomatic motions in order to give Pakistan the opportunity to take care of the militant problem itself — but if Islamabad failed to address India`s concerns, then India is ready to attack Pakistan" Stratfor said.
Three weeks after the attacks, India has gone out of its way to reassure everyone that it is not thinking of military action on Pakistan. This was most recently conveyed by Indian high commissioner to Pakistan Satyabrata Pal to Awami National Party chief Afsandyar Wali Khan in Islamabad earlier this week. But India continues to tell all its international interlocutors that its patience will not last long, particularly if Islamabad cannot crack down on terrorism.
End.
Saturday December 20, 2008 (1253 PST)
NEW DELHI: India may have ruled out the military option against Pakistan in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks but the international intelligence community continues to believe that strikes in kashmir and specific targets could still happen.
Global intelligence service Stratfor, in its latest report, said, "Indian military operations against targets in Pakistan have in fact been prepared and await the signal to go forward."
It added, "These most likely would take the form of unilateral precision strikes inside Kashmir, along with special forces action on the ground in Pakistan proper."
Meanwhile sources close to Pakistan defence said that Pakistan arm forces are fully capable and ready of defending mother land and any strikes or assault on Pakistan will be dealt with stern and appropriate reaction.
The private sector intelligence service said that unlike the massive movements of 2002 during Operation Parakram, India`s preparations this time were more under the radar and not visible to the world at large. Its only indication was the fact that the Border Security Force (BSF) has been put on high alert on the western sector as well as the eastern sector — this paramilitary force`s main mandate would be to prevent infiltration.
"Sources have indicated to Stratfor that New Delhi is going through the diplomatic motions in order to give Pakistan the opportunity to take care of the militant problem itself — but if Islamabad failed to address India`s concerns, then India is ready to attack Pakistan" Stratfor said.
Three weeks after the attacks, India has gone out of its way to reassure everyone that it is not thinking of military action on Pakistan. This was most recently conveyed by Indian high commissioner to Pakistan Satyabrata Pal to Awami National Party chief Afsandyar Wali Khan in Islamabad earlier this week. But India continues to tell all its international interlocutors that its patience will not last long, particularly if Islamabad cannot crack down on terrorism.
End.
