Islamabad: Over the past few years, Pakistan has faced terrorist attacks targeting its military installations. These events are both shocking and extremely sad. However, it is important to note that these attacks have had negligible impact on the country’s overall strategic operational capability. Instead, they can be described as primarily strategic in nature.
It is worth noting that terrorist attacks on military installations primarily focus on personnel, equipment or local facilities. While these attacks are undeniably tragic and disruptive in the short term, they have not caused any lasting damage to Pakistan’s broader military capabilities. Pakistan’s strategic operational capability lies in a broader and more flexible network of military assets, strategies and resources.
Pakistan’s military strategy involves inherent redundancies and dispersed operational assets. In the event of a local attack, the armed forces can quickly redistribute their resources, adapt their tactics and recover from damage. History is witness to the fact that Pakistan Army has been trained to endure and operate in challenging conditions. Our armed forces have demonstrated their resilience in the face of adverse conditions, ensuring that strategic operations continue.
Terrorist attacks in Balochistan are motivated by various underlying motives. Balochistan, with its abundant natural resources and important projects such as Gwadar Port, Recco Diq and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has become a major target. The purpose of these attacks is to destabilize Pakistan’s economy. Anti-Pakistan elements understand that a prosperous Balochistan will contribute to enhancing the overall Pakistani economy, resulting in strengthening the country’s geopolitical influence. This is what these opponents want to weaken.
The geographical scope of terrorist attacks has been limited to isolated incidents in specific areas, reflecting their inability to disrupt broader strategic operations of the Pakistan Army. Pakistan’s military infrastructure is designed to withstand local attacks and maintain strategic readiness, making these attacks ineffective in affecting overall strategic capabilities.
Pakistan’s military infrastructure is strong and built to withstand such local incidents. The country’s military leadership has implemented strong strategies and strengthened facilities to ensure the security and operational readiness of its strategic assets. This flexibility means that while these attacks are undoubtedly tragic and disruptive on a small scale, they ultimately do not have the potential to compromise the broader strategic capabilities of Pakistan’s military forces. The existing multidimensional defense mechanisms are designed to mitigate the impact of such local threats and protect the country’s broader strategic interests while remaining resilient and secure against these challenges.
In fact, a massive, coordinated effort is being made to destabilize Pakistan. Nevertheless, it is important to distinguish between tactical disruptions and more widespread strategic threats. Up to this point, all terrorist attacks on military installations in Pakistan have been localised, focused on specific posts or personnel. They lack the capacity and magnitude to undermine the broader strategic position.
The author is a columnist based in Islamabad. He posts @saleemfarrkh and can be reached: [email protected]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Geo.TV.
Originally published in news
