strategic depth

eshal · #1 Sunday, October 16, 2011

can any one elaborate this term "strategic depth".. i couldn't be able to understand this... and this is related to afghanistan?

angelstar · #2 Sunday, October 16, 2011

AOA,
Strategic depth is a term in military literature that refers, broadly speaking, to the distances between the front lines or battle sectors and the combatants’ industrial core areas, capital cities, heartlands, and other key centers of population or military production.

In military terms, strategic depth has some meaning if it refers to a region that provides safety and resources to an army or a country. A buffer zone could be a strategic depth in politico- military terms. Hitler's attempts to gain the oil-rich and grain- filled parts of Russia could be said to seek strategic depth. The NATO's eastward expansion can be said to offer strategic depth both to western Europe and to the erstwhile Soviet states. The Golan Heights offers the same to Israel. After the Cold War, strategic depth is better obtained by shaping relations through engagement and by adding depth to a country's economic capacity.
regards.

eshal · #3 Monday, October 17, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelstar

AOA,
Strategic depth is a term in military literature that refers, broadly speaking, to the distances between the front lines or battle sectors and the combatants’ industrial core areas, capital cities, heartlands, and other key centers of population or military production.

In military terms, strategic depth has some meaning if it refers to a region that provides safety and resources to an army or a country. A buffer zone could be a strategic depth in politico- military terms. Hitler's attempts to gain the oil-rich and grain- filled parts of Russia could be said to seek strategic depth. The NATO's eastward expansion can be said to offer strategic depth both to western Europe and to the erstwhile Soviet states. The Golan Heights offers the same to Israel. After the Cold War, strategic depth is better obtained by shaping relations through engagement and by adding depth to a country's economic capacity.
regards.

thanks alot ... can u plz how pak and afghan are inter related with each other through strategic depth?

Faseeh Muhammad · #4 Monday, October 17, 2011

In order to understand the relation of Pak-Afghan strategic depth, one need to examine the map of South East Asia first. Pakistan has following neighbors:

Neighbors of Pakistan:
China to its northern, length of border is 510 km.
Afghanistan to its West, length of border is 2,640 km.
Iran to its South-West, length of border is 912 km.
India to its East, length of border is 2,910 km.

Out of these four neighbors, India and Afghanistan has remained problematic for Pakistan. Afghanistan due to its claim on today Khyber Pakhton Khawah and its refusal to accept the Durand Line has been a source of concern for Pakistan. India's outfit to destabilize Pakistan do not need any elaboration.

Strategic Depth in this case of Afg-Pak mean that when our army is facing India on its eastern borders, it would be difficult for him to concentrate or counter any insurgency from 2,640 Km long border in the west i.e Afghanistan Border. Or in simple words, If i am fighting with a person, i would certainly desire that no one attacks me from my back side. Due to Afghanistan being a Muslim country, it provided strategic depth for Pakistan as if it has to face Indian army from Eastern Borders they will not have to look after its western borders. Another question that might raise in your mind is why India is extending his hand of corporation to Afghanistan or why the later is responding warmly to its policies. The answer is "Strategic Interests."

It is not necessary that only those countries who have similar religious out look provide strategic depth for each other. It is actually outcome of a common strategic interest.

Strategic interest is, by definition, a highly contextual notion reflecting the preferences of the actors involved in politics or in policy. Simply put, a strategic interest implies the preference or a set of preferences that are considered crucial by a specific actor. An actor’s interests will define its actions.... (Encyclopedia of Political Science)

Hence today's Afghan govt that recently entered into an agreement with India regarding corporation into various field including training of it Military had behind it similar strategic interests. This is the reason why Pakistan always condemns any type of role that could be given to India in Afghanistan, because if given it will diminish the strategic depth Pakistan has enjoyed in Past.

Asad Shafiq · #5 Monday, October 17, 2011

My understanding of strategic depth is a little different. Strategic depth with reference to Pakistan is the actual depth of land available for a tactical retreat. Pakistan is a country that is rather narrow in the middle. In the event of an onslaught from the east, this strategic depth into Afghanistan provides the army with the space needed to maneuver a tactical retreat, regroup and then launch a counter attack, at least in theory. I personally think strategic depth became less significant when we acquired nuclear delivery capabilities.

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The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to angelstar For This Useful Post:
aristotlekhan (Saturday, June 30, 2018), daredevil (Sunday, October 16, 2011), Kamran Chaudhary (Monday, October 17, 2011), Yousafzaii (Monday, October 17, 2011)

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Faseeh Muhammad For This Useful Post:
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