ISLAMABAD - The attack on GHQ has moved the army into serious deliberations and far reaching options, which is the main reason why the ISPR press conference that had been scheduled for Sunday afternoon was cancelled and the media was informed that a press release would be issued. However, that too did not appear till going to press. The beat reporters were, however, able to contact the ISPR individually to get some comments from the DG. The reason for this delay in giving a formal position on the attack is that the army feels a major red line has been crossed and qualitatively altered the terrorist threat. Three main issues are under discussion within the military, it would appear. First, there is the issue of the origin of the weapons, especially the guns, which were all of prohibited bores. The general conclusion is that the source of these weapons is Afghanistan. Second, there is the issue of linkages between this attack, the attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul and the Peshawar blasts. One link that seems to be near establishing is the connection between the GHQ attack and the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009. The Sri Lankan authorities have already hinted at a Tamil/Indian connection in that case. Another linkage that is being discussed is whether the attack had any connection to the position taken by the Corps Commanders meeting on the Kerry-Lugar Bill. Third, there is a growing view within elements of the military that there needs to be a strong, clear and hard hitting response to the terrorist threat not only in terms of targeting the immediate culprits but also of going beyond in a decisive fashion to deal with the foreign sponsors of the terrorists targeting Pakistan, particularly the security forces, and the supply trail of weapons coming in from Afghanistan including what are seen as stolen supplies from US and NATO depots. In this connection, there is a growing sense that Indias dangerous role in low intensity conflict in Pakistan through Afghanistan needs to be taken up publicly. There are also reservations that the government, at the US behest, is trying to push the army into a premature conventional operation in South Waziristan especially with winter coming. The military feels it has better assessment on the ground as to when the operation has to be launched. Also, the military feels it is of no use going in for a conventional military operation in this area with ground troops and air support, as long as the US and NATO are unable to block the flow of weapons from Afghanistan and unwilling to put an end to Indian support via Afghanistan, for terrorists within Pakistan. For all these reasons, one should expect a deliberate and carefully thought out as well as clear official response from GHQ.