Pak can't leave its borders insecure: Army officials

Islamabad, Oct 19: Pakistan wants peace and stability in Afghanistan, but cannot leave its borders “insecure" as most of India"s military might is concentrated along the Indo-Pak border, top army officials have said.

During a briefing on the national security situation for members of two parliamentary panels at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi yesterday, Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani sought to dispel the perception that Islamabad is seeking “strategic depth" in the neighbouring war-torn country, newspapers here reported.

Responding to a question from a lawmaker on Pakistan"s interests in Afghanistan, Kayani said, “We cannot leave both our eastern and western borders insecure." “It is wishful thinking to achieve strategic depth in Afghanistan. The Russians tried, the (British) tried, the Americans are trying. We don"t have a magic wand," Kayani was quoted as saying by a lawmaker.

The briefing for the lawmakers was done by the Director General of Military Operations, Maj Gen Ashfaq Nadeem, while Kayani participated in a subsequent question and answer session.

Nadeem claimed India"s cold start military doctrine had added to threats confronting Pakistan.He claimed seven out of the Indian Army"s nine commands and three strike corps are deployed along the border with Pakistan.

Eighty-one per cent of India"s forward and main operating bases were positioned against Pakistan, Nadeem contended.

“We cannot base our strategies on any good intentions, no matter how noble they may be, as intentions can change overnight. Our strategy has to be based on India"s capability," he was quoted as saying.

PTI