PAF tactics catch China's strategic eye
Listen to article
The Chinese Air Force Chief on Tuesday praised Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) exemplary performance in the recent Pakistan-India conflict and expressed interest in learning from PAF's battle-proven experience in multi-domain operations.
Leading a high-level defence delegation led by Lt-Gen Wang Gang, Chief of Staff of People's Liberation Army Air Force, visited the Air Headquarters in Islamabad to meet Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff.
The visit of the top Chinese air force officer came two months after Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three highly-advanced French-made Rafale.
The story made international headlines as for the first time the Chinese military hardware proved its combat superiority over the western technology.
Pakistan may have used J10C and PL-15 beyond visual range (BVR) missiles to force the Indian air force to ground its air assets but the indigenous technology and integration of various systems made the real difference.
The Chinese air force chief acknowledged that and according to the official readout he expressed keen interest in learning from Pakistan's experience.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said during the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics and avenues of enhanced bilateral cooperation, particularly in the domain of airpower and operational synergy were discussed.
The air chief extended a gracious welcome to the distinguished guests, reiterating that Pakistan and China enjoy historic and time-tested ties rooted in mutual trust, strategic convergence and shared aspirations for regional peace & stability.
Lt-Gen Wang Gang was given a comprehensive briefing on PAF's modern force structure, strategic initiatives and the evolution of its operational doctrine.
The chief of the air staff also reaffirmed the strong bond of friendship between the two air forces and reiterated Pakistan Air Force's commitment to expanding cooperation in training, technology and operational domains.
General Wang Gang expressed deep appreciation for the high state of operational readiness and the cutting-edge capabilities of Pakistan Air Force.
He was particularly impressed by PAF's seamless integration of multi-domain operations, terming it a hallmark of modern air warfare and conveyed PLAAF's keen interest in learning from PAF's battle-proven experience.
Lauding the professional acumen and strategic foresight of PAF's leadership, the visiting dignitary paid rich tribute to the exemplary performance of Pakistan Air Force during the recent conflict with India.
He praised the decisive and measured response delivered by PAF pilots under the resolute leadership of the Air Chief, describing it as a textbook example of precision, discipline and courage in the face of unprovoked aggression.
The meeting stands as a testament to the shared resolve of Pakistan and China to advance their time-tested strategic partnership through deepened cooperation and innovation-driven collaboration.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
14 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Army's top brass vows decisive action against India-backed proxies
Pakistan Army's top brass on Thursday vowed decisive action against terrorist outfits allegedly sponsored by India, reaffirming that the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remain the military's top priority. Chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the 271st Corps Commanders' Conference reviewed internal and external security dynamics amid recent tensions with India and developments in the Middle East. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the forum offered Fateha for the martyrs of recent terrorist attacks and expressed firm resolve that the sacrifices of Pakistan's Shuhada 'will not go in vain.' The military leadership strongly asserted the need for 'decisive and holistic actions at all levels' against what it termed as Indian-backed proxies, including outfits referred to as 'Fitna Al Khawarij and Fitna Al Hindustan.' The COAS highlighted Pakistan's recent diplomatic engagements alongside the Prime Minister, including visits to Iran, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the United States, as efforts to convey Pakistan's position on regional and global developments. In a sharp rebuke to New Delhi, the Army Chief said, 'Invoking third parties in what is unmistakably a bilateral military confrontation reflects a disingenuous attempt at bloc politics aimed at falsely projecting India's self-assigned role as a net security provider.' Internal governance failures: Army says India following predictable template The statement comes in the wake of rising border tensions and what the military described as 'India's manifest defeat in direct aggression' following the Pahalgam incident. The conference also reviewed recent transformations in warfare and emphasized building self-reliant defense capabilities amid growing global reliance on use of force. The COAS appreciated enhanced inter-services cooperation, particularly acknowledging the leadership of the Pakistan Navy and Air Force. In his concluding remarks, Field Marshal Munir expressed full confidence in the operational readiness of the Pakistan Army to counter the 'complete threat spectrum.'
Express Tribune
42 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Indian election officials demand citizenship papers from Bihar voters
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the revision of the voter rolls in June ahead of upcoming polls in the eastern state © / AFP/File Indian election officials have given voters in Bihar state just weeks to prove their citizenship, requiring documents few possess in a registration revamp set to be applied nationwide, triggering disenfranchisement fears. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the revision of the voter rolls in June ahead of upcoming polls in the eastern state. It said the exercise will later be replicated across the nation of 1.4 billion people. According to the ECI, the "intensive revision" was needed in part to avoid the "inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants". Members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have long claimed that large numbers of undocumented Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh have fraudulently entered India's electoral rolls. Critics say the overhaul could render vast numbers of Indian citizens unable to vote. "You are being asked to produce documents that very few people have," said Asaduddin Owaisi, a prominent Muslim lawmaker. "It will lead to mass disenfranchisement." Opposition lawmakers say it will impact minorities the hardest, including Muslims and Dalit communities, those on the bottom rung of India's rigid caste hierarchy. 'Engineered exclusions' All potential voters in Bihar will have to provide proof of citizenship by July 25. Those registered in 2003, the last time scrutiny of the voter list took place in Bihar, can submit a copy of that. The rest -- around 30 million people, according to the ECI's estimates -- have to provide evidence of their place and date of birth. And those born after 1987 must also furnish proof of their parents' Indian citizenship. The requirement affects more than a third of potential voters in Bihar, India's third most populous state and its poorest. It is also a crucial election battleground as the only state in India's northern Hindi-speaking belt where Modi's BJP has only ever governed in a coalition. Bihar's main opposition party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has challenged the election commission in the Supreme Court, along with other parties and activists. "It is being used to justify aggressive and opaque revisions of electoral rolls that disproportionately target Muslim, Dalit and poor (Indian) migrant communities," the court petition read. "They are not random patterns exclusions." Unlike many other countries, India does not have a unique national identity card. The widely used biometric-linked "Aadhaar" identity card is not among the documents listed by the ECI as acceptable proof. Documents that can be used include birth certificates, passports and matriculation records. Of these, most people are likely to rely on their matriculation certificates. But even those are in short supply in Bihar, where literacy rates are among the lowest in India. According to an analysis published in The Indian Express newspaper, only 35 percent of people in the state hold such a document. "In Bihar, where literacy is not very high, many people are not likely to have the kind of documents the ECI has demanded," said Jagdeep Chhokar from the New Delhi-based Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). "The poor, poorly educated, uneducated and minorities will be the most impacted." 'Foreign infiltrators' Detractors say the drive is unprecedented because "documentary proof has never been demanded" of people to vote in India. "Only those who especially wanted their name inserted needed to fill a form," said political activist and academic Yogendra Yadav. "For the rest, someone would come to their house and get their names registered." "The onus in India was never on the voter but on the ECI officials," he added. In previous verification drives, modifications were made to the existing rolls, Yadav said. Now, a list is being drawn from scratch. Yadav said the drive was a "de facto" implementation of an earlier plan to put together a list of Indian citizens. The National Register of Citizens (NRC), which was compiled in the eastern state of Assam in 2019, left out almost two million people. Many of them were Muslims. The BJP had said the NRC would be replicated nationwide as it was necessary to detect "foreign infiltrators", but was forced to backtrack after furious protests. "Everyone has to now prove that they are citizens of India," said Yadav. "That is exactly what the NRC is... this is NRC by the backdoor."
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, China agree to enhance media ties to combat fake news
Pakistan and China have agreed to strengthen ties and launch joint broadcasting projects to effectively tackle fake news and disinformation. This agreement was reached during a meeting between Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and Party Secretary of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) of China Minister Cao Shumin. Both sides agreed that strengthening media, cultural, and people-to-people relations would introduce new dimensions to the longstanding Pakistan-China friendship, reported Radio Pakistan on Thursday. The two leaders discussed enhancing technical training and institutional collaboration, with an emphasis on developing a unified narrative to counter the spread of fake news. They also talked about the potential agreement between China Central Television (CCTV) and Pakistan Television (PTV) to promote the exchange of information and foster cooperation between the two broadcasters Tarar expressed Pakistan's readiness to translate this bilateral media cooperation into practical steps. He highlighted the crucial role of state-run PTV, Radio Pakistan, and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in communicating Chinese development projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC, as well as cultural ties among the people of both countries. He also pointed out that PTV is strengthening cultural and intellectual bonds by airing Chinese programmes, documentaries and news reports in Urdu. APP's China's News Service, Tarar said, is successfully conveying Pakistan's narrative to Chinese readers. Both leaders agreed that the media organisations of both nations are crucial in bridging the gap between the two peoples and promoting societal understanding and mutual harmony. They identified further opportunities for collaboration in media and culture, which could be advanced through institutional mechanisms. The discussions also included exchange visits for digital influencers from both countries. Tarar noted that in the digital age, such exchanges could inject new energy into bilateral relations. Similarly, Cao Shumin reaffirmed China's trust in Pakistan as a reliable partner and expressed her belief that closer media ties would enhance collaboration. These efforts will be further developed under a joint strategy.
