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Business Recorder
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pak-India conflict: Indian opposition assails Modi for failures
KARACHI: Indian opposition parties on Tuesday assailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failures in the Pakistan-India four-day conflict earlier this year. As New Delhi launched deadly air strikes on Pakistan in early May over allegations about the Pahalgam attack, which Islamabad denied, PAF downed six Indian jets in its response. After tit-for-tat strikes on each other's airbases, it took American intervention on May 10 for both sides to finally reach a ceasefire. Speaking in the monsoon session of the Indian lower house of parliament, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said Modi's government 'lacked the political will to fight Pakistan and, because of that, asked the armed forces to attack with their hands tied behind their backs,' according to NDTV. 'If Modi ji has even 50 per cent of the courage that Indira Gandhi had, then clearly say in parliament — Donald Trump is lying,' Gandhi, who is a member of the opposition Congress party, said. He added that the Indian prime minister should state that neither did Trump broker a ceasefire, nor have any of India's planes had been shot down. 'Don't make the army a means to save your image, Modi ji,' Gandhi said. 'The defence minister said the most shocking thing. He said that, at 1:35 am, we called Pakistan and told them we had hit non-military targets and didn't want an escalation,' he added. The Indian leader of the opposition said the Indian defence minister did not understand what he revealed, adding, 'The Director General of Military Operations was told by the government to ask for a ceasefire at 1:35am that very night.' 'You told the Pakistanis exactly what you would do, that you would not hit military targets. You told them directly that you don't have the political will to fight. It's like you are telling them, 'We have slapped you, but we won't slap you further',' Gandhi said. Referring to the Indian Chief of Defence Staff's admission that Indian jets had been shot down by Pakistan, he said, 'CDS Gen Chauhan should have the guts to say that my hands were tied behind my back by my own government.' He added that not a single country has condemned Pakistan. Deputy Leader of the Congress party in the lower house, Gaurav Gogoi, said, 'You think 35 Rafale jets are enough — we don't think so. Even losing one would be a big loss,' according to Indian news outlet the Economic Times. 'The media, which gets its information from you, made it seem like we would wake up in Karachi the next day — but you stopped short,' Gogoi added. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, ' Agencies failed. This falls under the home minister — did he resign? Did he even take responsibility?' She also questioned why PM Modi agreed to stop the war. Leader of the Opposition of the Upper House Mallikarjun Kharge questioned if the Indian government had prior notice of the Pahalgam attack, saying, 'PM [Modi] cancelled his schedule three days before the Pahalgam attack — was the govt aware in advance?' 'Trump says five jets were shot down. If he's your friend and you campaign for him, why are you silent on this?' Kharge asked PM Modi. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
GMA Network
a day ago
- General
- GMA Network
US aircraft ready to support AFP disaster relief ops — PAF
A PAF Black Hawk helicopter of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing transported boxes of food packs and sacks of relief supplies to a typhoon-stricken village in Abra province on July 27, 2025. PHOTO: PAF The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Monday confirmed the presence of U.S. military aircraft in the country to assist in disaster response operations, even as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) intensified efforts to assist typhoon-hit communities. PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft from the US have been committed to support humanitarian aid and disaster response (HADR) missions, though their deployment will depend on the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), which leads national disaster coordination and identifies priority areas. 'As far as the information that we got, yes—there are aircraft committed by the United States to help in our HADR efforts,' Castillo said in an ambush interview at Camp Aguinaldo. 'They include both rotary and fixed-wing assets currently positioned at one of our air bases for ready deployment.' According to the PAF, the OCD will pinpoint the areas of great concern, with the utilization of US assets following its direction. 'We cannot say how long they will stay, but they are here and committed to help,' Castillo said. Meanwhile, the AFP has already mobilized resources to assist those affected by recent typhoons, particularly in Northern Luzon and other vulnerable regions. As of July 28, the AFP has deployed 50 Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SRR) Teams composed of 445 personnel, primarily under the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM). These teams are supporting operations in provinces that include Abra, Antique, and Batanes. To transport relief supplies and evacuate stranded residents, the AFP has mobilized 51 KM trucks for ground transport, six Black Hawk helicopters, and one C-130 cargo aircraft, which was scheduled to transport 151 stranded individuals from Batanes to Manila on July 29, weather permitting. Beyond immediate response teams, the AFP maintains a nationwide posture for sustained operations: 1,113 SRR teams with over 12,455 personnel, 988 land mobility assets, 47 Philippine Air Force aircraft, and 25 Philippine Navy vessels positioned across various commands. The ongoing cooperation with the United States, including the arrival of U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, reflects continuing bilateral defense ties and the shared commitment to humanitarian and disaster relief, one of the focus areas under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). — RF, GMA Integrated News
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
How Dhaka crash of F-7 jet spotlights risks from obsolete Chinese militaryware
Through the 100-hours-long stand-off between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, several military aviation experts praised the performance of Chinese-built fighter jets like J10C and JF-17 used by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF). They were claimed to have scored well against fighter jets pitched by the Indian Air Force, including France's Rafale and Russian Su-30. It even led to a massive jump in the stocks of Chinese jet maker Avic Chengdu Aircraft Co Ltd, up by over 36 per cent in just two days of Operation the recent crash of an F-7BGI fighter jet, flown by the Bangladesh Air Force, has spotlighted how, despite incremental updates, China continues to export outdated, unreliable Soviet-era aircraft to developing countries, compromising safety and watchers claim this tragedy underscores the grave risks of relying on cheap but antiquated Chinese weaponry systems plagued by quality control failures, opacity and corruption, costing not only military lives but also innocent civilians far from any battlefield. Internal reports and anti-corruption probes in China have revealed rampant graft in defence procurement, including 'pay-for-promotion' schemes and compromised maintenance procedures, raising fears that exported platforms, like the F-7, are riddled with invisible risks. Despite global sales, Beijing rarely discloses incidents involving its military equipment, deepening mistrust among client July 21, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into Dhaka's Milestone School and College, resulting in the death of 27 people—most of them children—and injuring over 170 others. The tragedy, reportedly caused by catastrophic mechanical failure moments after take-off from Kurmitola airbase, has thrown the nation into mourning and sparked public outrage. Despite the pilot's attempts to steer the failing jet away from densely populated areas, the aircraft slammed into the school, igniting a fire and causing widespread devastation. Hospitals treated dozens of victims for severe burns and trauma. Observers maintain that the F-7 BGI, a Chinese-made fighter jet, is derived from the 1960s-era Soviet MiG-21 and was exported to Bangladesh in the last decade as an affordable solution for air force modernisation. Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the F-7 BGI serves as a low-cost, multi-role fighter optimised for the Bangladesh Air Force. It features a double delta wing, modern avionics including multi-function displays and HUD, and carries short-range air-to-air missiles and guided acquired 16 units between 2011 and 2013 for fleet modernisation. The plane's top speed is Mach 2.2, with a payload capacity of up to 3,000 lbs. The F-7 BGI jet is the last and most advanced variant of China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft series, itself a licenced derivative of the Soviet-era MiG-21 design from the China has incrementally enhanced avionics and weapons systems, the platform remains fundamentally obsolete by modern military aviation standards. Purchased by Bangladesh in 2013 alongside 15 others, this fleet's operational use in routine training flights reveals the hazards of relying on outdated equipment in training environments close to civilian incident is not an isolated one. In June 2025, a Myanmar Air Force J-7 crashed in Pale township under mysterious circumstances, with speculation surrounding technical faults or possible enemy action. In 2022, a J-7 crashed into a residential block in Xiangyang, Hubei province, China, although the pilot successfully ejected before impact. Another incident occurred on June 10 when a Chinese air force Chengdu J-7 crashed into houses during a training mission in central China, killing one person on the ground and injuring two safety concerns surrounding F-7 fighter jets are not limited to China. A PAF F-7PG plane crashed during a routine training flight in 2020, resulting in the death of the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Asim Nawaz. The Bangladesh Air Force has also experienced its share of accidents, including an F-7BG crash in 2018 that killed pilot Arif Ahmed Dipu, and an F-7MB that went missing over the Bay of Bengal in 2015, with the pilot never countries around the world operate Chinese fighter jets, showcasing China's growing influence in the global military aviation market. Pakistan is one of the largest operators, with a fleet of J-10C Vigorous Dragon and JF-17 Thunder multirole combat aircraft. The JF-17 is a China-Pakistan project, with Pakistan operating over 150 of these aircraft. The country has also received 20 J-10Cs, further bolstering its air force is another significant operator of Chinese fighter jets, with around 36 Chengdu J-7s, eight ageing Shenyang J-6s, and some Hongdu JL-8 jet trainers. Zambia has also acquired Chinese-made aircraft, including six Hongdu JL-10s and 10 Shenyang J-6s, which are part of its efforts to modernise its military with affordable and accessible is another country that relies heavily on Chinese fighter jets, operating Nanchang Q-5, Shenyang J-6, and Chengdu J-7 aircraft. North Korea also boasts a significant fleet of Chinese and Soviet-era fighter jets, including Shenyang J-6, Chengdu J-7, and Shenyang F-5 aircraft. Thailand has recently participated in joint exercises with China's air force, highlighting Beijing's expanding military activities in the region. Myanmar has also operated Chinese-made J-7 fighter jets, with one crashing under mysterious circumstances in June aviation experts pointed out that this incident underscores the dangerous dilemma faced by developing countries that turn to budget Chinese arms: the choice between affordability and modern safety is stark, and often the latter is sacrificed, with disastrous consequences. China's military industrial sector is also frequently criticised for its secrecy regarding technical problems and accident records, making it hard for buyers to properly assess the risks associated with their Bangladesh, after the jet tragedy, mass grief has quickly become anger, leading to demands for accountability from defence suppliers and calls to restrict military flights over populated areas. The government has vowed to launch a full investigation and review its procurement to India Today Magazine- Ends
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
‘India's miscalculation and Pakistan's strategic victory'
This is apropos a letter to the editor 'India's miscalculation and Pakistan's strategic victory' carried by the newspaper yesterday. This writer would like to add that President Donald Trump convened his strategic team, led by Vice President JD Vance, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Real-time intelligence painted a grim picture: Pakistan's counteroffensive was not only imminent, but could severely cripple India's command-and-control infrastructure, disrupt key economic hubs, and dismantle its air defense shield. JD Vance was dispatched to urgently communicate this intelligence to Prime Minister Modi. The message was blunt: any further escalation would result in irreversible consequences. The strategic calculus shifted instantly. Modi, once intoxicated with power and emboldened by false notions of invincibility, was brought to his senses. The once defiant leader now faced the reality of defeat, and with surprising haste, he accepted a ceasefire — grasping at the lifeline extended by US diplomacy. Pakistan's military response was not merely reactive — it was the product of years of strategic planning and technological upgrades. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF), often underestimated, proved formidable. It not only neutralized Indian air incursions but used advanced jamming techniques to cripple enemy communications, rendering even India's most prized Rafale jets vulnerable. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
IAF to phase out its last MiG-21 fighters next month
An Indian Air Force personnel arranges ammunitions in front of MIG-21 fighter plane at DefExpo 2020 in Lucknow, India, February 5, 2020. REUTERS/ Pawan Kumar India is set to formally retire its remaining MiG-21 fighter jets in September, drawing the curtain on the Indian Air Force's (IAF) longest-serving and most controversial combat aircraft. Currently operated by the IAF's 23 Squadron, known as the Panthers, the aircraft will be replaced by the indigenously developed Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. India inducted over 700 MiG-21s over the years, including several variants such as the Type-77, Type-96, BIS, and the upgraded Bison models. Many were licence-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to The Hindu, the final squadrons of MiG-21s are currently stationed at the Nal air base in Rajasthan. Their phase-out will reduce the IAF's operational fighter strength to 29 squadrons, its lowest in decades, until Tejas units are fully integrated. Read: PAF aircraft shine at UK air show The aircraft have been marred by controversy, most notably during the 2019 aerial confrontation with Pakistan. In the aftermath of India's Balakot airstrike, a MiG-21 Bison flown by then Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Frequent crashes over the years earned them the nickname 'Flying Coffins', with official records showing the deaths of around 170 pilots and 40 civilians in MiG-21-related incidents. A major incident was recorded in May 2023, when a MiG-21 crashed near Suratgarh, Rajasthan, during a training, leading to the deaths of three civilians.
