The Chitral Incursion - 20

Yet again a substantial force of heavily armed men has made an incursion from Afghanistan into Pakistani territory, this time into Chitral. As of Monday afternoon the number of our military and paramilitary personnel who were confirmed dead as a result was 33, with the possibility that the number may rise. The majority of those who died were local men, recruited from the villages in the area. Four men are reported missing and it is believed that they were kidnapped by the raiders and taken back into Afghanistan. The number of people in the raiding party is differentially reported, but could be 300 of which perhaps 20 were killed. Responsibility was claimed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and there is little reason to doubt this. The diplomatic response has been quick and the Afghan charge d'affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office on Sunday to be told, yet again, that this was unacceptable and such attacks would 'no longer be tolerated.'

Islamabad's protest is strongly worded, and could be interpreted in such a way as to suggest that our own forces may conduct hot pursuit operations into Afghanistan or, stretching the imagination considerably, our air force may strike the raiders before they get across the border if there is reliable intelligence as to their whereabouts. The reality is that we are not going to war with Afghanistan, the air force will stay on the ground and, apart from a little long-range artillery fire, we are not going to be making much by way of a response. Another reality is that we are suffering from a nasty dose of unfinished business. Many of those engaged in the raid are said to originate from Malakand Division and there are other reports that the raids are inspired and led by the likes of Maulana Fazlullah, lately of Swat, and Maulvi Faqir, lately of Bajaur Agency. Both these powerful figures escaped the Pakistani forces and are said now to be operating from Afghanistan's Kunar and Nuristan provinces, allegedly with the cooperation  of  local  Afghan  authorities.  They  remain  a  significant  threat  to  the stability of our northwestern borders. It is reported that Pakistan has shared accurate intelligence  with  the  Afghans  regarding  the disposition  of  militants  originating  in Pakistan, but to little effect. It is unlikely that the Afghan National Army will take on these 'guests' and these attacks may be expected to continue. Given that there is good intelligence on the whereabouts and activities of the TTP in Afghanistan, it says little for the way in which Pakistan is regarded. And a response that is a little more robust than a diplomatic rap over the knuckles would be entirely appropriate.

Editorial, News International (Rawalpindi), August 30, 2011, http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=65324&Cat=8&dt=8/30/2011