Pak army's new priorities: Internal threats, NOT India

The Pakistan army, while changing its operational priorities has described 'internal threats' such as anti-state terrorist groups as the biggest danger to the country's security.

Earlier, India was enemy number one for Pakistan but after this change, terrorist organisations such as Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan and other anti-state elements have replaced the old rival neighboring country as threat to country's security.

The paradigm shift in Pakistan military's operational priorities has come in a 'Green Book' containing the ideology of Pak army. According to reports, the green book known as 'Army Doctrine' is published to review army's war preparations and capabilities which this time include a new chapter titled 'Sub-Conventional and Warfare'.

Under the new doctrine, the military now considers the ongoing guerrilla war in the tribal regions and along its western borders the biggest threat for Pakistan. Although the 200-page book doesn't name the groups and the elements that are threat to Pakistan's security, but some defence analysts say that it means anti-state group such as the TTP.

The book, without mentioning any country, also discusses proxy war in the chapter of non-conventional warfare.

The military has reportedly started distributing the book among the army officers while doctrine will be also shared with the public and will be appeared on the army's website at an appropriate time.

Commenting over the new 'Army Doctrine' Defence Analyst Lieutenant General (rtd) Talat Masood told the media, "Before the publishing of this new doctrine, Indian was enemy No. 1 for Pakistan; all the assets of the army were made while keeping in view the rival neighboring country. But for the first time the army has accepted that the army is facing a real threat from the internal elements based near the Western border."

According to Talat Masood the new change in policy shows that the army will now 'focus on Sub-Conventional Warfare'.

"The possible targets are Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan and its partners that operate from across the border," he added.