THE terrorist attack on PNS Mehran has conveyed a clear message that even the sensitive national/military installations/airbases inside Pakistan are now not safe from terrorists. The attack has raised some questions: was there any security plan in place for PNS Mehran? How was it assumed that two militants managed to escape and who confirmed that there were six or 10 militants, in all?

Was PNS Mehran, including outer perimeter fencing, covered by CCTV surveillance cameras? If yes, does it have digital video recording system? Were all buildings, including the area of the PAF Museum, its rooftop, marriage lawns, manholes, gutters, drains, trees, parked aircraft and vehicles, searched after the attack to locate the two fleeing militants?

Was PNS Mehran sealed after the attack and were all outgoing personnel and vehicles searched till the end of the operation as the fleeing militants might be hiding inside and looking for an opportunity to go out?

Were any efforts made to locate the footprints of the militants, especially the footprints of the escaped militants, with the help of army or police tracker dogs?

Terrorists may now plan raids on PAF or army aviation bases, but they cannot succeed unless they are able to gather required information from insiders. Sadly, to help terrorists to get near our airbases and other vital installations to collect information, we ourselves must be blamed. To generate revenue, spare land inside cantonments is being sold to civilians, ignoring the security aspect. During social and cultural activities inside the cantonment and base area such as musical concerts and festivals, civilians from adjacent localities are allowed so that sale of tickets is increased, ignoring the security threat.

To prevent raids on military targets, especially on military airbases, the following measures are suggested: Physical security plan must be prepared and tested by conducting mock exercises After the exercise, the physical security plan must be reevaluated.

Security personnel must be trained in anti-infiltration techniques and be armed and equipped to counter terrorists on a war footing. An all-weather road along the perimeter fencing/wall must be made to be used by the rapid emergency force. Bushes and trees must be cleared up to at least 50 yards on both sides of the perimeter fencing for a clear field of observation. The watch tower on perimeter fencing must be tactically placed to observe the area on both sides of the perimeter fencing/wall.

The technical area and perimeter fencing must be covered and monitored through CCTV surveillance cameras with digital recording system round-the-clock. All service and civilian employees must be kept under observation for any suspicious behaviour.

Sale of property to civilians in the cantonment area must stop and construction of multi-storey buildings outside and close to perimeter boundary wall must be forbidden. Planting of anti-personnel mines with trip flares/booby traps tactically along the outer perimeter in double layers of fencing covered by machineguns must be considered.

Use of tracker dogs and patrolling on horses to comb the bushes and trees on both sides of the perimeter will be of great help for detecting infiltrators. An emergency siren must be sounded in the event of a ground raid for general alert. Possessing and carrying of private cellphone, especially having camera, must be forbidden in the technical area of airbases.

SQN LDR (Rtd) S. AUSAF HUSAIN Karachi

Lack of govt determination

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has asked western countries to redouble their efforts to work with Pakistan, outlining Pakistan’s scarifies in war against terrorism.

Mr Cameron said this at a joint news conference with US President Barack Obama during the latter’s visit to the UK. Mr Obama said the Taliban were not well-wishers of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He asked the Taliban to lay down their arms and break their relationship with Al Qaeda.

Mr Obama also clarified that the US and the West are not at war with Islam. While Mr Obama and Mr Cameron have assured Pakistan of their support, our defence committee, instead of making an anti-terrorism policy, has released a vague press release. It said a coordinated effort would be made to prevent such an attack and pre-emptive action would be taken.

Who can convince our defenders of Islam that a particular group in Pakistan wants to establish its version of Sharia in the country by using terror. It is being done to implement laws such as chopping off heads and hands and depriving women of rights to participate in the affairs of the state.

It is being done so that women remain at homes. Who can change the mindset of those who are supporting the Taliban by telling them that Islam is a religion of peace, love and compassion and its strength is in peace with other faiths. It is time our civilian and military leadership formed a policy to ensure the protection of every citizen’s property and life.

STH Lahore