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First Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan: The land of delusion squeezed between two illegitimate power centres
Sharif's writ lies eroded even further, and Pakistan is lurching ever so close to another military dictatorship. The vexing questions on the Rawalpindi generals' control over politics, economy, judiciary and even the media have now been put to rest read more How do you deal with a problem like Pakistan? This question has vexed Indian policymakers and the political establishment for several decades. We are none the wiser despite several wars and kinetic conflicts, the latest of which took place just a few days ago. At the heart of the problem is a revisionist state where the public stays in a state of permanent suspension of disbelief, while its all-powerful military runs a rentier economy and conjures up alternative realities at will. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Consider, for a moment, how Pakistan fared in the latest battle. We already know well enough about the 11 of the 12 key Pakistani airbases hit by Indian missile strikes, some of which are still inoperable. It suggested a complete failure of Pakistan's China-supplied air defense system. The fact that Pakistan couldn't protect its sensitive air assets, nuclear weapon storage sites or even nuclear command and control centres is a telling commentary on its incompetence. It explains why Pakistan's beleaguered army chief ' went running to the United States seeking immediate intervention.' That the Pakistani DGMO, carrying a message of cessation of hostilities, was made to wait several hours before the Indian side even agreed to take the call on May 10 tells you who emerged with the upper hand. As the fog of war slowly lifts, the magnitude of Pakistan's loss is slowly becoming clear. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has lost 20 percent of its infrastructure, including hangers, hardened air shelters (HAS), critical maintenance equipment and several of its fighter jets, such as an airborne early warning SAAB-2000 aircraft (AWACS) flying 300 km inside its own airspace. These are expensive beasts, even more so for a rickety economy like Pakistan's that survives on doles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The SAAB Erieye-2000 flying radar was struck by India's S-400 SAM system that was activated 11 times during the conflict. That's not all. According to media reports quoting Indian defence sources, PAF lost one C-130 J medium lift aircraft, a JF-17 and two F-16 fighters to air-launched SCALP and BrahMos missiles. India also struck a Chinese-made LY-80 air defence system and took out the prized HQ-9 in Karachi using UAV and loitering munitions, reports Hindustan Times. Pakistan also lost over 50 airmen, including squadron leader Usman Yusuf when Indian missiles struck Pakistan's Bholari airbase at Sindh. The loss of so many lives, as well as high value assets within a span of a few hours would have demolished the swagger and sapped the confidence of any military outfit. But this is Pakistan. Its army has 'never lost a war'. Within a few hours of the ceasefire that was agreed upon in distinctly dishonourable circumstances for the 'Lumber One' military, the Pakistanis declared a 'win', sparking nationwide 'celebrations'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As if at the flick of an invisible switch, Pakistan created an alternative reality where its all-powerful military not only beat back a much larger adversary, but scored an important tactical victory that further tightened the military's grip over every aspect of Pakistan's politics, society and economy. Consider also the fact that within days of a demoralizing defeat, army chief Asim Munir was promoted to the rank of a Field Marshal, only the second military officer in Pakistan's history to get the honour after General Ayub Khan in 1959. Khan, having ousted then President Iskander Mirza in 1958, helped himself to the title a year later. With Munir's 'promotion', Pakistan now has two illegitimate power centres in military and civil domains. Not even Shehbaz Sharif, heavily dependent on the military for survival, believes in his own legitimacy as the prime minister. Riddled with allegations of corruption, poor governance and lack of agency, the Sharif government had become deeply unpopular. As did the military, which for the first time in several decades was facing an organic pushback from the Pakistani middle class – that threw its lot with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan – for the military's outsized influence on Pakistan's polity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The war with India changed everything. Battlefield reverses notwithstanding, Pakistan's military was able to create an in illusion of victory in an 'existential' battle against India, with the aid of some creative myth making. Losses were quickly hidden, the DGISPR shaped the counter-narrative on a war footing pressing into service dubious claims, fake news, AI generated video clips and round the clock press briefings. With the aid of the Western media's discourse power that bought into Pakistani claims that Chinese-built J-10s shot down up to five Indian aircraft, including several Rafales, the narrative coup was complete. Pakistan is now firmly under the grip of military nationalism, and the new generation of army sceptics has been bought over. The tide of popularity has swung in favour of the hitherto unpopular Munir in such a way that the jury is out on whether Munir adorned himself with the title of Field Marshal (Failed Marshal would've been more accurate), or whether Sharif, eager to curry favour with the new 'hero' of the Pakistani masses, decided to be a little creative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Either way, as the Pakistanis celebrate their hard-earned 'win' over India with a formal dinner with Munir as the 'showstopper' Pakistan. Not even the mightiest of India's cruise or ballistic missiles may destroy Pakistan with efficacy from within the way Pakistan's military can. The most popular mass leader in decades is in jail under strictest of charges and harshest of conditions. The rebellion has been snuffed out. Sharif's writ lies eroded even further, and Pakistan is lurching ever so close to another military dictatorship. The vexing questions on the Rawalpindi generals' control over politics, economy, judiciary and even the media have now been put to rest. The military first claim to the poverty-stricken country's resources finds renewed public mandate. None can save Pakistan from its dance of death. Its embrace of instability, religious fundamentalism and the population's collective somnambulance. The writer is Deputy Executive Editor, Firstpost. He tweets as @sreemoytalukdar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
How India used 'dummy pilotless aircraft' during counter-strikes on Pakistani airbases
PM Modi with IAF personnel at Adampur airbase on May 13 NEW DELHI: On the intervening night of May 9 and 10, the Indian Air Force (IAF) destroyed 11 of Pakistan's 12 airbases, retaliating against Islamabad targeting 26 locations across India as a response to the successful "Operation Sindoor." India's air defence systems, however, thwarted Pakistan's attacks. Also Read | Operation Sindoor: How IAF bypassed Pakistan's China-supplied defence systems, destroyed military targets According to an ANI report, the counter-strikes on airbases of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) began with the Indian forces sending across "dummy pilotless aircraft." These were camouflaged to appear as IAF jets on enemy radars. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar As expected, the PAF radars and air defence network got activated to take down the Indian 'incoming aircraft.' The IAF then launched the loitering munitions, including the Israeli-made Harops, targeting Pakistan's air defence radars and command and control systems. Pakistan's air force had to mobilise its entire set of its HQ-9 air defence missile system launchers and radars to different locations; some of these were deployed at new locations but were detected following activation. The IAF then followed up with its long-range missiles, including the BrahMos and Scalp, using these to attack the Pakistani air bases. As per reports, around 15 BrahMos, as well as the Scalp, Rampage and Crystal Maze, were launched in the offensive. Also Read | 'Pakistan ko andhere mein ujala dikhaya': Rajnath's praise for IAF on Operation Sindoor The strikes marked the first time that the BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile system, has been used in an active conflict. The damages were so extensive that the PAF was forced to shift its aircraft to different bases in the rear. Also, it is likely to have lost a significant number of long-endurance drones and an airborne early warning and control aircraft during an IAF missile hit on a hangar at an airbase in the Sindh province. Defence sources told ANI the intensity of the strikes made Pakistan drop its plans for a counter to the capitulation of its air defence system. Islamabad urgently requested DGMO (Director General of Military Operations)-level talks to arrive at an "understanding" with New Delhi to put a pause to all military action going forward. The DGMO talks were held at 3:35 pm on May 10. Around two hours later, the two sides announced the ceasefire.
The Print
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
IAF bypassed & jammed Pakistan's China-supplied air defence systems on 7 May, says India
'Loitering munitions were used to devastating effect, each finding and destroying high-value targets, including enemy radar and missile systems,' a research note put out by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) stated. It made a distinction between what was used to hit the airbases and what was used for taking out other military targets. India's offensive strikes, in response to the Pakistan military's attack, targeted key Pakistani airbases Nur Khan and Rahimyar Khan with surgical precision. New Delhi: India Wednesday said that its air force had on 7 May bypassed and jammed Pakistan's China-supplied air defence systems, a reference to the HQ-9, completing the mission to strike terror hubs in just 23 minutes. 'All strikes were executed without loss of Indian assets, underscoring the effectiveness of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems. The use of modern indigenous technology, from long-range drones to guided munitions, made these strikes highly effective and politically calibrated,' it said in what is seen as a reference to the strikes post 7 May. 'Concrete evidence' of neutralised threats 'Operation Sindoor also produced concrete evidence of hostile technologies neutralised by Indian systems,' read a statement put out by the PIB, which added that these were pieces of PL-15 missiles (of Chinese origin), Turkish-origin UAVs, 'named 'Yiha' or 'YEEHAW'', and long-range rockets, quadcopters and commercial drones. 'These were recovered and identified, showing that despite Pakistan's attempts to exploit advanced foreign-supplied weaponry, India's indigenous air defence and electronic warfare networks remained superior,' it said. Talking about Operation Sindoor, the statement that without crossing the Line of Control or international boundary, Indian forces struck terrorist infrastructure and eliminated multiple threats. 'However, beyond tactical brilliance, what stood out was the seamless integration of indigenous hi-tech systems into national defence. Whether in drone warfare, layered air defence, or electronic warfare, Operation Sindoor marks a milestone in India's journey towards technological self-reliance in military operations,' it said. It further said that on 7 May night, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in northern and western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and Air Defence systems. On 8 May morning, the armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. An air defence system at Lahore was neutralised The statement said that as part of Operation Sindoor, India had used battle-proven AD (air defence) systems like the Pechora, OSA-AK and LLAD guns (low-level air defence guns) besides indigenous systems such as the Akash. (Edited by Gitanjali Das) Also Read: India blocks X accounts of Chinese & Turkish state media for misinformation on Operation Sindoor
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor: How IAF bypassed Pakistan's China-supplied defence systems, destroyed military targets
NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday detailed how (IAF) bypassed Pakistan's China-supplied defence systems to destroyed military targets in the country during . In a detailed statement, the government also confirmed that Pakistan foiled attacks on Indian cities and military sites involved Chinese and Turkish-origin weapon systems, including PL-15 missiles and Bayraktar-style drones, all of which were successfully neutralised by Made-in-India defence technologies. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The government's detailed press release mentioned that Operation Sindoor underscored not just the precision of India's military action but also its technological self-reliance, marking a milestone in the country's defence doctrine. 'Operation SINDOOR emerged as a calibrated military response to an evolving pattern of asymmetric warfare… India's response was deliberate, precise, and strategic,' the statement read. India jammed and bypassed Chinese air defence systems By bypassing China-supplied defence systems, Indian fighter jets and loitering munitions struck key Pakistani military sites, including Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan airbases, using indigenous platforms. According to the government, these strikes were completed in just 23 minutes. 'Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defence systems, completing the mission in just 23 minutes, demonstrating India's technological edge,' the government said. All strikes were executed without crossing the Line of Control or the international boundary, and no Indian assets were lost. Meanwhile, India's multi-layered air defence successfully intercepted Pakistani attacks using a mix of legacy and modern indigenous systems: Akash Missile System, which 'demonstrated stellar performance' in neutralising multiple aerial threats Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) systems that destroyed Turkish-origin drones Arudhra and Ashwini radars, developed in India, used for tracking and interception Netra AEW&C system, used for the first time operationally to provide 360-degree surveillance 'These systems, built over the last decade with continuous government investment, proved to be force multipliers during the operation,' the statement said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chinese missiles, Turkish drones recovered The government confirmed that wreckage from various foreign-supplied weapon systems used by Pakistan was recovered, including: Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles Turkish-origin UAVs dubbed 'Yiha' Long-range rockets and quadcopters These were deployed by Pakistan in cross-border attacks that targeted Indian military installations between May 7 and May 10. 'Despite Pakistan's attempts to exploit advanced foreign-supplied weaponry, India's indigenous air defence and electronic warfare networks remained superior,' the statement said.
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: India's doctrine against terror; Virat Kohli retires from Tests
Good morning, My earliest cricket memories are with Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid. These legends defined the game for an entire generation. I was a teenager when a young, fiery Virat Kohli burst onto the scene, full of ambition, attitude, and undeniable talent. He became the player I grew up with, celebrated, defended, and grieved over after every low. Kohli was my Sachin. Yesterday, he stepped away from Test cricket. The announcement was a stark reminder that time spares no one, not even the best of us. The thought of a Playing XI without his presence feels surreal. There will be new prodigies, records will tumble, and cheers will roar. But Kohli, with all his fire and flaws, remains irreplaceable. Our national sports editor, Sandeep Dwivedi, captures the essence of Kohli. Read his piece here. I will get back to Kohli in a bit. Before that, let's dive into today's edition. Operation Sindoor pushed the envelope of India's response to terrorism, striking deeper inside Pakistan's territory. Addressing the nation for the first time since the operation began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid down the new 'normal'. India's war on terrorism now comes with a new 3-point doctrine: In doing so, the Prime Minister called out Pakistan's nuclear posturing. It came on the day the Indian armed forces, for the first time, flagged the use of China-supplied weapons in Pakistan's arsenal, used against India. While Operation Sindoor successfully thwarted Pakistan's aerial strikes, it opened up a Pandora's box of challenges for the Modi government. To begin with, there is the social media chatter of those who feel let down by the pause in military action. Then there is US President Donald Trump, who has claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire. Read Neerja Chowdhury's column as she unpacks the optics around Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke for a second time yesterday. Both sides have decided to ease tensions further and reduce troops at the borders and forward areas. Also read: All about Pakistan Air Force assets that India hit Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai is set to take oath as the Chief Justice of India tomorrow. His tenure may be short (it ends in November), but for a man who grew up in the slums of Amravati, it's no mean feat. He will be the second Dalit community member to be CJI. Gavai has several high-stakes cases to his name. He set safeguards against arbitrary arrests in stringent laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He was part of the seven-judge bench that delivered a landmark verdict in favour of the sub-classification of the Scheduled Caste quota. My colleague Omkar Gokhale traces the journey of Justice Gavai, from his school days to the Supreme Court bench. The kill: Rajasthan's iconic Ranthambhore tiger reserve has witnessed two deaths in less than a month. Was something sinister at play? Experts point to 'thoughtless interventions', such as live-baiting, and 'oversights'. Bitter pill: Medicines in India may no longer come cheap as Trump forces pharma companies to align drug costs in the US with the cheapest ones abroad. With India and other developing markets expected to pick up the slack, prices may increase, and distributors and patent drug manufacturers may face reduced margins. Hold on: The US and China have agreed to pause their trade war for 90 days and suspend the high tariffs placed in place after April 2. The deal was inevitable, given that consumers face the brunt of costlier imports. So, who won this round—did anyone? And what happens now? I will let Udit Misra explain. Framing conflict: At the height of the India-Pakistan tensions, a trio of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Army, her Air Force counterpart, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri instilled a sense of calm with their incisive updates from the battleground. The message was powerful. In the face of external pressures, India was united. National opinions editor Vandita Misra writes on the need to hold on to that ethos. As promised, I leave you with this insightful report by my colleague Sriram Veera on the future of Team India. With Kohli and Rohit Sharma's exit, selectors are left with a largely inexperienced team and likely a novice captain. Have the younger lot got what it takes? Read. That's all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She runs The Indian Express's weekly climate newsletter, Icebreaker. Apart from this, her interests range from politics and world affairs to art and culture and AI. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. ... Read More
