Pak establishment has learnt no lessons from past intelligence disasters: Editorial

Islamabad, May 28 (ANI): An editorial in a Pakistan daily has said the establishment has learnt no lessons even after an attack as brazen as the one on Pakistan Naval Station (PNS) Mehran.

According to the editorial, it is not a good sign because it serves to only embolden the militants and the terrorists and tells ordinary peace-loving Pakistanis that the state is not serious about fighting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Over a year ago, Taliban minions of Al-Qaeda attacked the Pakistan Navy aviation base Mehran to avenge the killing of Osama Bin Laden at Abbottabad on May 2, 2011, killing 10 people and destroying two expensive P3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft.

The event, a 17-hour siege of the base, shocked the entire nation and sapped the confidence of those willing to fight terrorism in Pakistan, it stated.

The Pakistan Navy formed a Board of Investigation to probe the siege at PNS Mehran on May 22, 2011. It announced its findings and has court-martialled three naval officers and sentenced them for "negligence of duty", but were later let off.

The editorial also stated that objectivity and balance was lost in Pakistan over the death of Osama bin Laden. By becoming offended over 'why' and 'how' Osama was killed, the country has lost sight of what his death meant in terms of internal peace.

It stated that terrorists are winning the publicity battle, as was evidenced by the most shameful jailbreak at Bannu, which contained dangerous criminals. After the jailbreak, the Taliban proudly claimed that they had spent Rs 20 million in bribes alone and CDs of the attack are being sold openly in markets in the area, it added.

One year on, no steps have been taken to reform the security institutions on the lines recommended by the judicial commission, it said. In fact, the non-action over the Mehran base attack, has been overtaken by another scandal also somewhat similarly named Mehrangate. This scandal of money-gouging by intelligence agencies has not only shaken them to their foundations but also brought a bad name to the army, it concluded. (ANI)