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| India-Pakistan |
| 32 US trainers start training 116 FC men |
| 2008-10-26 |
| US special forces have begun teaching a Pakistani paramilitary unit how to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda, hoping to strengthen a key front-line force as violence surges on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border. The start of the programme has not been officially announced, but Pakistan Army officers confirmed on Saturday that 32 Americans were training 116 senior personnel of the Frontier Corps in the restive region. The officials said the course included classroom and field sessions, and the mission would last for around six months. "We need this training to use modern equipment and weapons," said Frontier Corps Commander Major General Tariq Khan. The US training programme is reportedly smaller than originally proposed, and was delayed, apparently reflecting misgivings in Pakistan over allowing US troops on its territory. A US defence official said the trainers were US special operations forces who arrived in Pakistan last week. FC is a relic of British rule that was long a poorly armed, untrained police force, which the government now hopes can be remade into a potent unit capable of confronting the Taliban. American officials have said they are also supplying equipment such as helmets, flak vests and night-vision goggles. Officers being trained in Warsak: Meanwhile, the electronic media quoted Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar that the Pakistani officers were being trained in Warsak, contrary to reports pointing to the Tarbela area. He said the government had opted for the programme because Pakistani troops are not trained in guerrilla warfare. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Sorta like training the NVA to keep the Vietcong in check. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-10-26 14:41 |
| #3 especially if the overwhelming blunt force has fancy tactics too |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2008-10-26 14:39 |
| #2 What would happen if the jihadis actually started using tactics and aiming before they shoot? They'd have about five days' success before the wrath of the US military (at least under a halfway thinking, reasoning president) would descend upon them. Overwhelming blunt force will usually overcome fancy strategy every time. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2008-10-26 13:37 |
| #1 I'm really uncomfortable about all this advanced infantry training being offered to totally unreliable organizations worldwide. What would happen if the jihadis actually started using tactics and aiming before they shoot? |
| Posted by: gromky 2008-10-26 06:49 |