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Business Recorder
12-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
They're still flying high
EDITORIAL: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has always drawn praise from everyone – not through grandstanding, but by delivering whenever it is tested. The latest nod came from the Chief of Staff of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force, Lieutenant General Wang Gang, who called the PAF's performance in the recent war with India 'a textbook example of precision, discipline, and courage' in the face of unprovoked aggression. The remark came during a high-level visit to Air Headquarters in Islamabad, where General Wang also noted China's keen interest in learning from the PAF's battle-tested integration of Multi-Domain Operations, which says a lot. That's not a compliment Beijing hands out lightly – especially given its own airpower ambitions. But for those who've watched the PAF over the decades, this shouldn't come as a surprise. The Pakistan Air Force has always punched well above its weight. It captured international attention during the 1965 war, when a much smaller fleet held its own against a numerically superior Indian Air Force. Some of its wartime manoeuvres became case studies in combat aviation. The legend only grew over time – with stories of PAF pilots flying for Arab states and downing Israeli jets during the Yom Kippur War becoming part of regional military lore. Even in peacetime, the service maintained its edge, consistently training to a standard that attracted foreign observers, joint drills, and deep bilateral engagements – not least with China, which co-developed the JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan. That same platform has since matured into a credible deterrent force, operated by highly trained PAF squadrons who've adapted to modern hybrid warfare challenges without bloating the budget. What's more, the PAF's operational discipline and strategic clarity often stand in contrast to the disarray that marks other parts of the country's institutional machinery. Whether it's political paralysis, economic stasis, or diplomatic drift, Pakistan struggles to project stability in most arenas – except when its military, particularly its air wing, is in frame. So when China singles out the PAF for praise – and explicitly expresses a desire to learn from it – the statement carries weight beyond flattery. It confirms what military analysts have long argued: that the Pakistan Air Force remains one of the region's most competent and coherent fighting forces. It also reinforces the reality that Pakistan's strategic partnerships are not just alive – they're evolving. China is not lavishing praise as a favour; it is acknowledging value. A battle-tested, professionally run air force with multi-domain integration capabilities is an asset, especially as China gears up for its own next-generation military transformation. And for Pakistan, deeper integration with China's airpower doctrines and technologies could be the edge it needs to maintain parity with a larger neighbour constantly updating its arsenal. Yet there's a larger implication here, one worth noting. Pakistan's military, and the PAF in particular, has remained committed to hard capability even as fiscal realities have shrunk civilian development space. One might argue whether this allocation of resources is sustainable – that's a different debate – but there is little doubt that it has paid operational dividends. For a country still fighting an internal insurgency, struggling with fiscal meltdown, and burdened by political disarray, having one institution consistently deliver competence and reliability on the global stage is more than just optics – it's leverage. That's not to say the country can fly on the wings of the PAF alone. But when the civilian leadership is largely absent from diplomatic or economic strategy, and parliament rarely debates serious national security matters, such moments of international recognition carry weight far beyond military circles. They serve as reminders of what disciplined focus can achieve, even under systemic stress. So yes, the PAF deserves the recognition. Not just for what it did this summer, but for the decades of consistency, evolution, and excellence that led up to it. If anything still commands quiet respect for Pakistan abroad, it's not its economy, its democracy, or its diplomacy. It's the precision of its pilots. And they're still flying high. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Wire
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Pakistan Air Force Chief Meets Chinese Counterpart: Here's What They Discussed
New Delhi: In a high-profile visit underscoring the evolving security dynamics of South Asia, Pakistan Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu held extensive talks with his Chinese counterpart, Lieutenant General Wang Gang, Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, in Islamabad this week. The meeting signals a deepening of the military partnership between the two countries, particularly in the wake of recent hostilities between Pakistan and India. According to the official ISPR statement, the two air chiefs discussed regional security, operational synergy, and avenues for enhanced cooperation in training and technology. Lt Gen. Wang Gang praised the PAF's 'exemplary performance' during the recent conflict with India, describing it as a 'textbook example of precision, discipline, and courage in the face of unprovoked aggression.' He expressed particular interest in PAF's integration of multi-domain operations, calling it a hallmark of modern air warfare and stating that the PLAAF was keen to learn from Pakistan's 'battle-proven experience'. Air Chief Marshal Sidhu reaffirmed the 'strong bond of friendship' between the two air forces, rooted in 'mutual trust, strategic convergence, and shared aspirations for regional peace and stability.' The ISPR highlighted that the meeting stands as a testament to the shared resolve to advance the strategic partnership through innovation-driven collaboration. The Islamabad meeting follows Air Chief Marshal Sidhu's landmark visit to Washington, D.C., earlier this month, the first by a serving PAF chief in over a decade. In meetings at the Pentagon, State Department and Capitol Hill, Sidhu discussed bilateral defence cooperation, technology exchange and the potential acquisition of advanced AIM-120D air-to-air missiles for Pakistan's F-16 fleet. These discussions reflect Pakistan's urgent push for modernisation in the wake of vulnerabilities exposed during Operation Sindoor, and signal Islamabad's intent to balance its strategic partnerships with both China and the United States. The meeting comes just two months after Operation Sindoor, a brief conflict between India and Pakistan, where PAF claimed to have downed several advanced Indian Rafale jets, by possibly using Chinese-supplied J-10C fighters and PL-15 missiles. India's Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul Singh alleged that China provided Islamabad with 'live inputs' and 'all possible support' during the conflict, a claim both Pakistan and China have officially denied. The deepening Pakistan-China air force ties, especially after the recent conflict, have significant implications for India's security calculus and regional stability. Indian military leaders have already voiced concerns over the prospect of increased Chinese support to Pakistan's airpower.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punching above our weight — on an IV drip
Diplomatic optics don't usually favour countries still dancing around the possibility of sovereign default. And yet here we are — on an IMF lifeline, with next to no foreign exchange cover and a political setup too timid to lead — watching Pakistan make a sustained play on the global stage with more success than many would care to admit. Just this week, the Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, Lieutenant General Wang Gang, visited Air Headquarters in Islamabad and praised the Pakistan Air Force's performance in the recent war with India as 'a textbook example of precision, discipline, and courage' in the face of unprovoked aggression. This came within days of Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House — an unusually high-profile one-on-one between a Pakistani military leader and an American president. Trump praised Pakistan's efforts to de-escalate the recent war with India and said progress was also being made on the trade front. The meeting stood in sharp contrast to India's heavily publicised diplomatic visit a little earlier which climaxed with a photo op with Vice President JD Vance – no White House invite. And the balancing act didn't end there. China's warmth and America's unexpected openness followed the widely reported, if not officially confirmed, suggestion that Pakistan played a quiet but effective part in brokering a ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war. The claim — originating in Middle Eastern press — gained traction after both sides stood down with minimal external mediation, and with Islamabad condemning Israeli actions while carefully steering clear of antagonising Washington. Even if indirect, the timing raised eyebrows. This is not how struggling economies typically behave. And yet, Pakistan has managed to follow a tactical military victory — against a rival more than five times its size — with a flurry of effective diplomacy. Its post-war outreach, particularly with multilateral groups, has also delivered. India's push to include its version of the Pahalgam attack in final communiqués at SCO, BRICS, and QUAD summits was unsuccessful, which in diplomatic terms is a win for Pakistan — especially since silence, in such venues, rarely comes without consensus. Some might call it luck. Others, opportunism. But for anyone paying attention, a more plausible explanation lies in the state's real command structure. If — as everybody knows — the fountainhead of Pakistani policymaking in this Islamic Republic remains its military high command, then it is worth analysing how it has played its cards in one of the most delicate moments in the country's modern history. Because there is no elected civilian consensus on foreign policy. There is barely a functioning civilian apparatus at all. No parliamentarian spoke of recalibrating alliances after the Iran-Israel war. No elected representative gave a vision for how to manage the US-China rivalry. Yet the Pakistan army has somehow positioned the country in a rare space where both Washington and Beijing are listening. It may not follow any diplomatic playbook, but it is delivering the strangest results. And in power politics, showing up — consistently, visibly — often matters more than protocol. Make what you will of that. Of course, there is something unnerving about all this. A country with no money, weak institutions, and a paralysed political structure has no business threading needles between competing superpowers. And yet, it is doing just that — with surprising nerve. To be fair, some of this is circumstantial. The global environment is fractured. The US-China trade war is escalating again, disrupting supply chains, rattling financial markets, and inching toward a phase where countries may be forced to take sides. The Middle East remains unsettled. And many capitals are searching for stable diplomatic anchors in an increasingly unpredictable order. Pakistan, for all its internal contradictions, is at least projecting coherence on the world stage — even if that coherence wears military uniform. But hedging is not a long-term strategy. At some point, someone will demand clarity. A pledge. A pivot. And when that moment comes, it will test not just Pakistan's strategic balance, but its internal stability as well. Because hedging between powers is a luxury when you are solvent. When you're not, it becomes a risk you cannot afford to miscalculate. And we need both Chinese and American money to stay afloat. Until then, this is where we are: punching above our weight while still hooked up to the financial equivalent of a ventilator. And whatever else one might say about the structure that has enabled it — from shadow policymaking to absent civilian leadership — there is something undeniably impressive about the sheer audacity of it all. After all, in a year when even major powers are floundering to maintain their alliances, Pakistan has somehow emerged as a case study in diplomatic over-achievement. Whether it's sustainable, sensible, or simply absurd, depends on where — and when — you're standing. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Chinese and Pakistani air chiefs seek military synergy on training and tech fronts
A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) general called for greater cooperation in training and technology with China in talks with his Chinese counterpart in Islamabad on Tuesday. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) met Lieutenant General Wang Gang, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, to discuss operational synergy between the two branches, according to a statement from the Pakistan Armed Forces. Wang received a detailed briefing on the PAF's modernised force structure and strategic initiatives, and expressed 'deep appreciation for the high state of operational readiness and the cutting-edge capabilities' of the PAF, the statement said. He also praised the PAF's performance during a recent conflict with India, calling it a 'textbook example of precision, discipline and courage in the face of unprovoked aggression' and commended the 'decisive and measured response delivered by PAF pilots'. Wang also said the Chinese air force was keen to learn from Pakistan's 'battle-proven experience in multi-domain operations', which he described as a hallmark of modern air warfare, according to the statement. Sidhu reaffirmed the 'strong bond of friendship between the two air forces', and said the ties between Pakistan and China were rooted in 'mutual trust, strategic convergence and shared aspirations for regional peace and stability'.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Beijing, Ankara hail PAF's combat edge amid tensions with India
ISLAMABAD: In a rare show of coordinated praise, senior defence officials from China and Turkiye have commended the combat readiness and operational capability of the following last month's four-day conflict with India, a development seen in Islamabad as quiet validation of its evolving airpower doctrine. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In back-to-back high-level visits to Air Headquarters in Islamabad this week, top officials from the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the Turkish ministry of defence hailed PAF's 'decisive' response and 'battle-proven' performance during the May clashes. China's Chief of Air Staff, Lt Gen Wang Gang, met PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Tuesday and described Pakistan's aerial actions as 'a textbook example of precision, discipline and courage in the face of unprovoked aggression'. He praised PAF's integration of multi-domain operations (MDOs), calling it a 'hallmark of modern air warfare', and expressed interest in adopting elements of PAF's doctrine for the PLAAF. A day later, on Wednesday, Turkiye defence minister Yaşar Güler offered similar praise. Calling the PAF's performance 'exceptional', Güler lauded Sidhu's 'insightful leadership' and highlighted PAF's role in the 'resolute defence of national sovereignty'. He also proposed expanded cooperation in training, unmanned aerial systems, and disruptive technologies. Güler's visit coincided with the arrival of Turkiye foreign minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday, signalling coordinated diplomatic and military outreach as Pakistan seeks to shore up support from key allies. Neither China nor Turkiye elaborated on the details of the May conflict — downplayed by Islamabad and denied outright by New Delhi — but both echoed Pakistan's military narrative, offering a diplomatic boost as Islamabad contends with regional isolation and growing India-West defence ties. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Both delegations were briefed on PAF's restructured posture, including its focus on AI-driven targeting and cyber-electronic warfare. PLAAF officials reportedly showed strong interest in the JF-17 Block III, a jointly developed fighter jet now equipped with AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar and advanced avionics. The Turkish side proposed joint working groups to fast-track industry-to-industry ties — part of Ankara's push to expand its defence footprint in South Asia amid rising collaboration with Pakistan on drones, pilot training, and aerospace development. The rare twin endorsements from two of Pakistan's closest allies reflect a shifting regional balance, with China and Turkiye increasingly positioning themselves as strategic counterweights to India's deepening ties with the US, France and Israel. While India denies any aerial losses, the external praise for PAF suggests otherwise, raising questions about whether these visits signal deeper strategic alignment or simply calculated shows of support. Islamabad and Ankara on Wednesday agreed to boost their cooperation in a range of sectors, including defence, trade, energy and infrastructure, aiming to enhance bilateral trade volume to $5 billion. This was agreed during talks between Fidan and Guler with Pakistan foreign minister Ishaq Dar here. 'Pakistan would like to benefit from Turkiye's expertise and experiences in this (defence) field,' Dar said. 'We are actively engaged in different activities, including capacity building and counterterrorism,' Dar said, describing Turkiye as a "trusted friend" and a "reliable brother'. "We are pursuing the establishment of a Special Economic Zone dedicated to Turkish entrepreneurs at Karachi,' Dar said. He also mentioned finalising the revival of the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train.
