Thread by @PoliticalPrism_

WHY #PAKISTAN NEEDS CANTONMENTS?

In this thread, we'll explore the reasons behind the establishment & dispersal of #Army #cantts throughout the country.

1. #India has long desired to target Pakistan's strategically located cantonments, which are critical for the country's defense. However, due to Pakistan's well-planned cantonments, Indian attempts of harming Pakistan were stopped in their tracks.

2. Now, the social media negativity is being used to peddal the age-old Indian desire of shaking this stalemate, albeit using PTI social media machine. Old wine in New packaging.

A narrative against the cantonments is being spread, duly proliferared by unassuming PTI zombies, for political point-scoring without realizing the negative impact it will have on the country's security.

🔽 Let's dissect as to why Pakistan needs Cantts..

📌 Geo Imperative:

The number and size of cantts in a country depend on its security and strategic needs. Pakistan has relatively less strategic depth, being elongated in shape that stretches from North to South. (Cont)

This lack of depth, a geographic reality, leaves Pakistan vulnerable to even shallow attacks from both its eastern and western borders. The need thus for strategically dispersed military cantonments having layered defence lines is a defenc imperative.

📌 Threat:
India's Cold Start Doctrine involves launching a quick, powerful military strike against Pakistan from border cantonments without mobilising. This type of attack requires a rapid response by ready and arayed forces with minimum displacement. (Cont)

These cantonments serve as critical military bases that can be quickly mobilized to respond to any potential aggression from India with layers of defense to intercept and eventually prevent penetrative strike.

📌 Prudence of Dispersed Cantts: The dispersed nature of cantonments across the country makes it harder for the enemy to destroy them through aerial bombing or missile attacks at the start of hostilities. The enemy wants us to put all eggs in one basket.

📌 Western Deployments:
After 9/11, Pakistan faced security threats from the western direction also, which necessitated the establishment of cantts and border fencing to counter non-state actors and terrorist infiltration from Afghanistan. (Cont)

The resultant threat, being more internal than external, requires additional cantts across western side of the country to ensure that the Secuirty forces are present to counter and prevent terrorists from using any area as a safe haven. (cont)

The new cantts also helped in successful completion of clear and hold phases of counter terrorist operations. The existing Cantts are now a source of reassurance and are acting as a base for build & transfer phase of coin strategy.

📌 Cantt Boards:
It is important to note that the cantt boards employ only civilians, and the land remains govt owned, leased to armed forces. Additionally, cantt areas in Pakistan provide important benefits to the neighbouring civilian communities. (Cont)

The hospitals & schools are open to the general public while cantts remain an important source of economic activity, especially in impoverished backward areas.

📌Historical Perspective:
The cantonments originally were established by the British govt. After partition, these cantonments were retained by both countries. As the threats and tactics evolved, the need for cantts increased. (Cont)

India inherited 39 cantts at the time of partition, but now has 62 cantts areas, while Pakistan continued to retain 44 cantts even today.
Despite being a state with less strategic depth, the reality is that in terms of number of cantts, Pak has fewer cantts than other countries.

The US has over 300 military installations around the world. Even Israel, having a much smaller land area than Pakistan, has 80.

This explanation should put to rest any doubts or misunderstandings about necessity of military cantonments in Pakistan.
If anyone has legitimate inquiries about this matter, I welcome them to ask. However, if u intend to mindlessly parrot the unfounded propaganda of our enemies

and engage in pointless debates. I implore you to refrain from commenting on this thread as it serves no purpose. The safety and security of my country must always come first, and our military capabilities, a thorn in eyes of enemies, must never be a source of controversy.