Waiting for the Crocodiles

Waiting for the Crocodiles

By Shamim-ur-Rahman

While Pakistan is pressing ahead with initiatives for infrastructure development in the Thar Desert for extracting coal reserves for meeting energy needs of the country, Pakistan Navy is beefing up its defence in the creeks along the Indian border and other coastal areas because the weapons acquisition by the Indian navy following Mumbai terrorist attack was aimed at offensive operations.

Pleading for providing more tactical equipment –such as UAVs, night vision devices and high speed boats to deal with the threat-- Commander Coast, Pakistan Navy Rear Admiral Tayab Ali Dogar recently told me that the Indians were investing a lot in weapons for littoral warfare and brown water navy.
“They have interceptor boats which are very high speed which will be used for interdiction in our area. They are also equipped with UAVs. There is lot of surveillance equipment which will go to UAVs. Midgets are also in their inventory.
“This makes us apprehensive that in the garb of defensive operations they are actually aiming for offensive operations. In view of that we are beefing up our defences. Our knowledge of geography of the area is a big plus for us. But it has to be backed up with lot of equipment,” Admiral Dogar said.
“Navy is trying to get more hovercraft, more weapons and night vision devices so that the force is able to monitor any Indian Marine Commandos (Marcos) and Crocodile Force operations because most of their operations would take place at night.
To a question he said “certainly we need more platforms; we need UAVs for tracking of our fishermen on the Makran Coast; we need them for night patrolling in the Creeks area. They can be equipped with infrared and night vision devices so that any ingress in the area can be countered”.
While plans in this regard have been sent to NHQ for budgetary allocation, Commander Coast was banking on the knowledge of the area and force presence for tackling anybody with “ulterior motives”.
Several large creeks like Sir Creek, Pir Sanai Creek, Pabewari Creek, Vianwari Creek, Koori Creek and Deveri Creek in the region besides numerous drains in the area including the 'Harami Nallah’ (Harami doro) are vulnerable to infiltration. Sir Creek remains a bone of contention between Pakistan and India.
It may be pointed out that during Gen Ziaul Haq’s time the regime had reported lot of ingress of militant outfits through these creeks including that of Al Zulfikar Organization (AZO) activists, alleged to be the armed group formed by the Murtaza Bhutto, son of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged by the military regime of General Ziaul Haq, That was the time when Pakistani force started physical presence in the creek area of which 75 per cent is in Pakistan’s jurisdiction and 25 percent is on the Indian side.

He drew my attention to the fact that the Gujarat Frontier of BSF has been raising the Crocodile force or Sagar Parharibal on the lines of the elite Marcos of the Indian Navy for effective security along the creek area.`
There is a separate force that is called Marcos (Marine Commandos). They have planned to raise it to about 2500. Darhiwala force, as they are often called, forms a special/covert operations and counter-terrorism unit specializing in sea-based land warfare. Also, they provide support to Indian Army units in specialized areas, such as in occupied Jammu and Kashmir's Wular Lake. The Indian Army maintains the 340 Independent Infantry Brigade (Amphibious) subordinate to 12 Corps (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) of the South Western Command

In view of the evolving threat Commander Coast emphasized the need for integrated response of all the government agencies to all security related issues. He said that Pakistan navy has sent a proposal of a joint maritime security organization in which the Navy will coordinate security related work of the agencies like Karachi Port, Bin Qasim Port, Gwadar Port, and the MSA, Coast Guards, Fisheries, Customs and all such agencies. It will be a sort of Ops room; he said adding that the proposal has been sent to the ministry of Defense.
Asked what protection his force can provide to Pakistani fishermen especially when the Indians are determined to operate more aggressively in the area Admiral Dogar said “nobody will bother them as long as they remain in our international waters. The problem arises when some of them get lost, for whatever reasons, and cross on the other side of the border. He nevertheless reiterated the determination to give a daunting blow to the adversary.
Replying to a question he said that work on data bank of the fishing boats has started with the help of Maritime Security Agency with focus on the established landing points like Karachi, Gawadar, Ormara, Pasni etc. Since there was no authentic data of boats since 1947, due to absence yearly renewal, the process of re-registering them was started and it was also on the agenda of National Maritime Affairs Coordinating Committee (NMACC). There will be periodic registration for which the Navy and MSA are assisting the Fisheries and Ports and shipping departments.