Latest news with #MasoodAkhtar
Qatar Tribune
3 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
QC explores cooperation with Sialkot Chamber of Pakistan
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Chamber Director General Ali Boushraibek Al Mansouri received today at the Chamber's headquarters a delegation from the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in Pakistan, headed by its President,Ikram ul Haq. The Pakistani delegation includedMuhammad Imtiaz Khan, Executive Director of Med Ask, a healthcare company; Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, CEO of DRM Pharma & Diagnostic; andKhawaja Masood Akhtar, Chairman of Forward Group, a leading manufacturer and exporter of footballs. During the meeting, the two sides discussed avenues for enhancing trade and economic cooperation between Qatar and Pakistan. Discussions also focused on strengthening institutional collaboration between the Qatar Chamber and the Sialkot Chamber to support private sector engagement and boost bilateral trade and investment. Al Mansouri praised the close relations between the two countries, particularly in trade and economic fields. He noted that the total volume of trade exchange reached approximately QAR 12.7 billion in 2024, with QAR 12.2 billion representing Qatari exports primarily petroleum gases and gaseous hydrocarbons while imports from Pakistan amounted to about QAR 500 million. He also highlighted the presence of more than 2,000 Pakistani companies registered with the Qatar Chamber, operating in partnership with Qatari firms, in addition to 37 companies that are fully Pakistani-owned. He affirmed that the Qatari market remains open and welcoming to more Pakistani investors. Ikram ul Haq expressed appreciation for the strong bilateral relations and emphasized that the delegation includes key representatives from Pakistan's healthcare and sports manufacturing sectors, who are keen to forge strategic alliances with Qatari businesses. Muhammad Imtiaz Khan highlighted the diverse investment opportunities available in Sialkot, particularly in the healthcare sector. He noted that Pakistani firms are eager to collaborate with Qatari counterparts in establishing joint ventures in hospitals, pharmacies, and medical laboratories. Khawaja Masood Akhtar remarked that his company manufactured the footballs used during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and is currently producing footballs for the 2026 tournament. He expressed interest in building partnerships with Qatari companies to further expand their international presence.
India.com
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistani Analyst Admits India's Defence Dominance, Says, ‘We're No Match Without S-400'
Pakistan, in the aftermath of 'Operation Sindoor', finds itself confronting harsh realities about its air defence and drone warfare capabilities. Recent Indian drone and missile strikes, which devastated key military sites across the border, have laid bare serious weaknesses in Pakistan's defence setup – prompting calls from within to urgently modernise and rethink its strategic posture. Well-known Pakistani strategic analyst Dr. Qamar Cheema bluntly described Pakistan's predicament, 'Our current defence systems are not equipped to handle the new generation of warfare. We desperately need advanced models like S-400. Without them, we remain vulnerable to Indian aerial dominance.' His observations highlight how Indian forces reportedly breezed past Pakistan's Chinese-made air defence systems, causing confusion and panic. The Indian Air Force's rapid and precise strikes targeted radar installations, command centres and ammunition depots at multiple locations including Lahore, Chaklala and Bholari. These strikes neutralised Pakistan's Pechora and OSA-AK missile systems and even destroyed Chinese-supplied air defence units in Lahore and Chaklala. The use of India's indigenous Akash missile system, equipped with sophisticated electronic counter-countermeasures, further demonstrated New Delhi's growing technological edge. Pakistan's own military leadership has acknowledged the damage inflicted. Retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar confirmed the loss of a vital AWACS aircraft at Bholari airbase. He emphasised the severity of the strikes and the challenges faced by Pakistani pilots under missile attack. Cheema warned that future conflicts will heavily rely on technology – drones, electronic warfare and cutting-edge air defence systems. 'This is not just a conventional war. It is a battle for technological superiority. Pakistan must urgently develop indigenous capabilities and invest in drone countermeasures before it is too late,' he said. Operation Sindoor has thus served as a reminder for Pakistan: adapting to modern warfare demands far more than traditional weaponry. India currently holds a clear advantage in the modern warfare.
Mint
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Viral video: Ex-Pakistan Air Marshal admits losing AWACS at Bholari airbase during Operation Sindoor
Although the Pakistani government has not officially acknowledged the damage from the Operation Sindoor airstrikes, a former Pakistani Air Marshal has let out that an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft was destroyed by the Indian airstrikes at Bholari airbase in Sindh province on the early morning of May 10. In an interview, ex-Air Marshal Masood Akhtar said the Pakistani military tried to save the AWACS aircraft but the missiles kept coming. 'They (Indian forces) fired four back-to-back Brahmos surface-to-surface missiles or air-to-surface missiles, I am not sure. The Pakistani pilots rushed to secure their aircraft, but the missiles kept on coming, and unfortunately, the fourth one hit the hangar at Bholari airbase, where one of our AWACS was standing. It was damaged,' Masood Akhtar said. The AWACS is designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles, and other incoming threats from long distances. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, was India's swift retaliatory strike targeting nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK). The mission followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 25 tourists and a local were killed. After India targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistani military attempted to breach Indian air defences. However, the attempt failed, and India struck back by hitting Pakistani airbases and destroying key military areas and equipment. The military strikes continued for four days before the Pakistani DGMO dialed his Indian counterpart to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, in a strong warning to Pakistan, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that Operation Sindoor is not over yet and whatever happened was 'just a trailer'. 'We have kept Pakistan on probation. If its behavior improves, then okay, otherwise, it will be given strictest punishment,' he said.
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First Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'Pak lost an AWACS': How Islamabad's losses are coming out, one admission at a time
Pakistan appears to have begun acknowledging the losses it suffered after India's Operation Sindoor. Retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, former chief of the Pakistan Air Force, said in an interview that Pakistan lost an AWACS aircraft when an Indian missile struck the Bholari airbase near Karachi. Also, in its first admission of air force casualties, Islamabad confirmed that 11 military personnel were killed during the confrontation with India read more A satellite image shows a view of damaged building at Nur Khan airbase following airstrikes in Rawalpindi. Reuters/File Photo Days after the success of India's 'Operation Sindoor', Pakistan's losses are now emerging one admission at a time. A former Pakistan Air Force chief recently revealed that Islamabad lost its Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft in an Indian missile strike on the Bholari airbase near Islamabad. Soon after 'Operation Sindoor', Pakistan tried to spread false claims about damage in India to create panic among people. These claims were later debunked by PIB Fact Check and several defence officials. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | Did India's Operation Sindoor cause a nuclear leak in Pakistan? What's behind the rumours? Now, however, it appears that Pakistan has begun to acknowledge the losses it suffered. In this explainer, we look at the admissions made so far by Pakistan in connection to India's 'Operation Sindoor'. Let's find out: Losing AWACS aircraft in Indian strikes Retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, former chief of the Pakistan Air Force, has said in an interview that Pakistan lost an AWACS aircraft during Indian missile strikes on the night of May 9 and 10. The strikes targeted 11 military locations. Notably, India's missile strike hit the Bholari airbase near Karachi. Indian defence officials confirmed the damage, and satellite images from Maxar Technologies supported these claims. 'They (Indian armed forces) fired four back-to-back Brahmos missiles…the (Pakistani) pilots rushed to secure their aircraft, but the missiles kept on coming and, unfortunately, the fourth one hit the hangar at Bholari (airbase), where one of our AWACS was standing. It was damaged and casualties were also reported…' he said in the interview. Bholari is Pakistan's newest airbase and was the site of the 'Shaheen IX' joint aerial drill with China in 2020. Inaugurated in December 2017, it is considered one of Pakistan's most advanced operational airbases, according to reports. A satellite image shows a view of a damaged structure at Bholari air base following airstrikes in Bholari, Pakistan. Reuters File AWACS, or Airborne Warning and Control System, is a mobile, long-range radar system that plays a key role in Pakistan's air defence operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On May 10, India targeted 11 military sites across Pakistan. These included airbases in Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari, and Jacobabad. According to the Indian government, the overnight strikes was a historic moment, as this was the first time a country had successfully attacked the airbases of a nuclear-armed nation in a single operation. ALSO READ | Forget India, how Pakistan can't even beat the economies of these two Indian states Pakistani aircraft suffered 'minor damage' On Sunday, May 11, Pakistan's military said that one of its aircraft had suffered 'minor damage' in the clash with India. The admission came after India stated it had shot down several Pakistani aircraft while responding to Pakistan's escalation following Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a press briefing with air force and navy officials, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 'only one aircraft' had sustained 'minor damage'. He did not share further information about the type of aircraft. Pakistan admits 11 military personnel killed On Tuesday, May 13, Pakistan confirmed that 11 of its military personnel were killed during its confrontation with India. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), six of those killed were army soldiers, while the remaining five belonged to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This was the first time Pakistan admitted to losing air force personnel, including chief technician Aurangzeb, during India's 'Operation Sindoor'. The acknowledgement gave credence to the Indian Air Force's statement that it brought down a few planes of the PAF. Pakistan also said that 78 personnel were injured during 'Operation Bunyan-al-Marsus', which it launched on May 9 and 10. The operation targeted 26 sites across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat using drones and missiles. However, all incoming threats were intercepted or blocked by India's air defence systems. ALSO READ | From Akash to BrahMos, how Made-in-India weapons took on Pakistan arsenal and destroyed it Pakistan admits no Indian pilot captured Pakistan clarified that it did not capture any Indian pilot. Speaking at a press conference with air force and navy officials on Sunday, Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the reports were false and based on 'fake social media reports'. His comment came after several pro-Pakistan social media accounts claimed that an Indian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Shivani Singh, had been captured. This was previously denied by PIB Fact Check, which labelled the claim 'fake'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan minister admits 'doing dirty work for US, West' Soon after the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people in India, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted the country's history of backing terror groups as 'dirty work' for the West, a move he called a mistake that has cost Pakistan. In an interview with Sky News, he said, 'Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, you know, and the West, including Britain.' Operation Sindoor On May 7, India launched precise and coordinated strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, under the codename Operation Sindoor. The operation resulted in the killing of over 100 terrorists, including those linked to the IC-814 hijacking and the Pulwama attack of 2019. As tensions escalated, both sides exchanged drone and missile attacks, bringing them close to a full-blown war. Debris of drones and other munitions from Pakistan, found after being destroyed by air defence units following an attack from the neighbouring country, in Amritsar. PTI On the evening of May 10, more than 100 hours into the confrontation, a ceasefire was declared after Pakistan reached out to India to halt the fighting. With Operation Sindoor, India showed that it would act against terrorism wherever it may exist, sending a clear message that those behind such attacks would not be safe anywhere. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan's AWACS destroyed in India's BrahMos strikes, admits ex-Air Marshal: ‘missiles kept on coming'
Pakistan's former Air Marshal Masood Akhtar has confirmed the loss of a critical surveillance aircraft during an Indian missile strike on May 9-10. The aircraft, part of Pakistan's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), was destroyed during Operation Sindoor at the Bholari airbase near Islamabad, according to a video interview shared by Frontal Force on X. Aircraft hit during missile barrage at Bholari 'They (Indian forces) fired four back-to-back Brahmos surface-to-surface missiles or air-to-surface missiles, I am not sure. The Pakistani pilots rushed to secure their aircraft, but the missiles kept on coming, and unfortunately, the fourth one hit the hangar at Bholari airbase, where one of our AWACS was standing. It was damaged,' Akhtar said in the interview. The AWACS aircraft plays a key role in long-range radar surveillance and coordination of air operations. It can detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, and incoming projectiles and support real-time threat assessment and response from both airborne and ground-based teams. — WhyTheLetter_S (@WhyTheLetter_S) India launched targeted military strikes after Pahalgam attack India initiated precision missile strikes targeting military infrastructure across Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. In response to Pakistan's drone attacks on Indian civilian areas, Indian forces hit radar systems, command centres, and ammunition stores in locations such as Rafiqui, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bholari, and Sialkot. Extent of damage confirmed by satellite images While the Pakistani military has minimized the impact publicly, satellite images have confirmed significant damage to various military installations. The Indian military stated that this was the first time a country had successfully struck air force bases of a nuclear-armed nation. Live Events You Might Also Like: 'Zara sambhal ke chalo, tum nashe mein ho': Rajnath Singh quotes Bashir Badr to warn Pakistan, watch video 'Within three hours, 11 bases were attacked, including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skaru, Bholari, and Jacobabad. It was time to convey some message to the adversary... hit where it would hurt. India's retaliation though was precise, and measured. We have the ability to target every system in the air bases, but we showed restraint to avoid escalation,' Air Marshal AK Bharti said. Pakistan's shift towards Chinese military gear raises questions on reliability Recently, Pakistan's dependence on China has grown significantly. Pakistan's heavy use of Chinese military equipment such as the HQ-9 air defence unit and PL-15 missiles signals a new direction in its military procurement strategy. While the United States and European countries continue to supply defence technology to Pakistan, recent trends show a heavier reliance on China. This transition, however, has led to operational challenges on the ground. Navy struggles with defective Chinese frigates In 2022, reports showed that Pakistan's Navy had been facing technical issues with four Chinese-made F-22P frigates. These vessels, inducted between 2009 and later, included one locally assembled with Chinese technical support. A report from Geopolitica pointed to faults in imaging and radar systems and problems with engine performance. The malfunctioning parts and lack of adequate servicing from China reduced the ships' performance in active duty. Pakistan's air defence failures during Operation Sindoor During Operation Sindoor, India's targeted missile strike campaign, Pakistan's Chinese-made air defence system failed to intercept incoming Indian missiles. One such strike hit the Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarters in Muridke with accuracy. India also targeted more than a dozen other locations, with before-and-after satellite photos showing direct hits. Despite claims about the capability of Pakistan's PL-15 missiles and J-10C fighter jets, Indian forces carried out a successful air campaign without interception. You Might Also Like: "Pakistan's ability to handle nuclear weapons is questionable": Military Analyst Tom Cooper Concerns raised by international think tanks A past study from RAND Corporation, an American research organisation, warned that Chinese military exports have often included faulty systems. The report highlighted that several countries, including Nigeria and Myanmar, received defective weapons. It noted that while Chinese weapons come at a lower price, they often lead to delays and added costs due to lack of technical support and spare parts. You Might Also Like: Nuclear leak happened in Pakistan's Kirana Hills? World's top atomic agency finally issues statement Why countries choose Chinese weapons One of the main reasons smaller countries turn to China for weapons is cost. Many of them cannot afford expensive systems from Western suppliers. In addition, China offers loans and flexible payment options that make such deals more attractive for countries facing financial pressure. In Pakistan's case, its economic constraints make Chinese offers hard to ignore, even if the systems are less reliable. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
