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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
Economic Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
IAF missiles shot down JF-17 Thunder, AWACS flying 300 km inside Pakistan, two F-16s, and a C-130J during Operation Sindoor: Report
IAF Struck Pakistan Deep and Hard Operation Sindoor prompts limited Pakistani response Indian S-400 system engaged 11 times Live Events Multiple Pakistani air bases targeted Key Pakistani defense systems neutralized Earlier strikes hit terror camps Indian Navy held position off Makran Coast (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India's May 10 airstrikes destroyed a Pakistani SAAB-2000 early warning aircraft 315 km inside enemy territory and took down multiple Pakistani fighter jets and a military transport aircraft, according to a HT report quoting Indian officials. During the May 10 military action, Indian Air Force (IAF) missiles struck key Pakistani aircraft and military targets across the border.A SAAB-2000 airborne early warning system was destroyed deep inside Pakistan, nearly 315 kilometres from the border. Indian sources also confirmed that the strikes downed a C-130J medium-lift transport aircraft, one JF-17 fighter, and two F-16 jets, both in the air and on the ground, HT report strikes were part of India's Operation Sindoor, launched in response to earlier tensions. Pakistan tried to respond with its own Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos, which began at 1:00 am on May 10 with a plan to target Indian air bases over the next 48 hours. However, the response ended within eight airstrikes, launched from Rafale and Su-30MKI aircraft using SCALP and BrahMos missiles, disrupted Pakistani operations and forced Islamabad to seek a ceasefire by reaching out to the United States by 9:30 am, according to people familiar with the S-400 air defense system , deployed in Adampur, was activated 11 times during the operation. One of its confirmed hits was the Pakistani SAAB-2000 early warning aircraft flying hundreds of kilometers inside Pakistan's first IAF strike reportedly disabled the northern air command-control network at the Nur Khan airbase in Chaklala. The final wave of strikes hit Jacobabad and Bholari airbases. By then, Pakistan had withdrawn from active confrontation and was appealing for a May 10, Indian missiles also destroyed a Chinese-supplied LY-80 air defense system in Lahore using a HARPY kamikaze drone. Another strike took out the HQ-9 surface-to-air system, the Chinese version of the S-300, in Malir, to the May 10 operation, Indian forces had targeted nine terrorist camps on May 7. Seven of these were hit using loitering munitions by the Army, Air Force, and Navy. High-value targets in Muridke and Bahawalpur were struck using SCALP and BrahMos missiles with precision-guided Indian Navy was prepared to strike the Karachi Naval Port on the morning of May 10, with warships positioned 260 miles off the Makran Coast. However, after a warning from Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of potential retaliation, India held back. Later that day, the Pakistani DGMO requested a no-fire pact.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
IAF missiles shot down JF-17 Thunder, AWACS flying 300 km inside Pakistan, two F-16s, and a C-130J during Operation Sindoor: Report
A SAAB-2000 airborne early warning system was destroyed deep inside Pakistan, nearly 315 kilometres from the border. Indian sources also confirmed that the strikes downed a C-130J medium-lift transport aircraft, one JF-17 fighter, and two F-16 jets, both in the air and on the ground. On May 10, India executed Operation Sindoor, striking deep into Pakistan, destroying an early warning aircraft and multiple fighter jets. The IAF utilized Rafale and Su-30MKI aircraft with SCALP and BrahMos missiles, targeting key military assets and disrupting Pakistani operations. Following these strikes, Pakistan sought a ceasefire, prompting India to hold back its Navy from engaging Karachi Naval Port. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads IAF Struck Pakistan Deep and Hard Operation Sindoor prompts limited Pakistani response Indian S-400 system engaged 11 times Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Multiple Pakistani air bases targeted Key Pakistani defense systems neutralized Earlier strikes hit terror camps Indian Navy held position off Makran Coast India's May 10 airstrikes destroyed a Pakistani SAAB-2000 early warning aircraft 315 km inside enemy territory and took down multiple Pakistani fighter jets and a military transport aircraft, according to a HT report quoting Indian officials. During the May 10 military action, Indian Air Force (IAF) missiles struck key Pakistani aircraft and military targets across the border.A SAAB-2000 airborne early warning system was destroyed deep inside Pakistan, nearly 315 kilometres from the border. Indian sources also confirmed that the strikes downed a C-130J medium-lift transport aircraft, one JF-17 fighter, and two F-16 jets, both in the air and on the ground, HT report strikes were part of India's Operation Sindoor, launched in response to earlier tensions. Pakistan tried to respond with its own Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos, which began at 1:00 am on May 10 with a plan to target Indian air bases over the next 48 hours. However, the response ended within eight airstrikes, launched from Rafale and Su-30MKI aircraft using SCALP and BrahMos missiles, disrupted Pakistani operations and forced Islamabad to seek a ceasefire by reaching out to the United States by 9:30 am, according to people familiar with the S-400 air defense system , deployed in Adampur, was activated 11 times during the operation. One of its confirmed hits was the Pakistani SAAB-2000 early warning aircraft flying hundreds of kilometers inside Pakistan's first IAF strike reportedly disabled the northern air command-control network at the Nur Khan airbase in Chaklala. The final wave of strikes hit Jacobabad and Bholari airbases. By then, Pakistan had withdrawn from active confrontation and was appealing for a May 10, Indian missiles also destroyed a Chinese-supplied LY-80 air defense system in Lahore using a HARPY kamikaze drone. Another strike took out the HQ-9 surface-to-air system, the Chinese version of the S-300, in Malir, to the May 10 operation, Indian forces had targeted nine terrorist camps on May 7. Seven of these were hit using loitering munitions by the Army, Air Force, and Navy. High-value targets in Muridke and Bahawalpur were struck using SCALP and BrahMos missiles with precision-guided Indian Navy was prepared to strike the Karachi Naval Port on the morning of May 10, with warships positioned 260 miles off the Makran Coast. However, after a warning from Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of potential retaliation, India held back. Later that day, the Pakistani DGMO requested a no-fire pact.
