Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions.

[Safriz]

The Pakistan Air Force is assisting the Nigerian Air
Force with maintenance and training for its F-7 fighter
jets and in building the Nigerian Air Force’s capacity.
Last week the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force,
Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, paid an official five-
day visit to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as part of
efforts to strengthen bilateral defence relations. Butt
said he would help the Nigerian Air Force reach its full
potential and promised that “the Pakistani Air Force and
the Defence Industries of Pakistan will not hold anything
back from the Nigerian people and the Nigerian Air
Force. When we cooperate more, we will develop to
reach higher heights,” Pan-African news agency (Pana)
quotes him as saying.
Pana reports that Pakistani Air Force personnel are
present in Nigeria working to maintain Nigerian aircraft.
Two Pakistani pilots are providing technical assistance
for the Air Force’s Chinese-built F-7NI and FT-7NI jets.
Pakistan also operates the type and has trained Nigerian
pilots.
The Pakistanis were brought in following several F-7
crashes and the loss of maintenance schedules, which
resulted in the grounding of the fleet in October 2012.
After assistance from the Pakistan Air Force, the jets
were cleared to fly again, Pana reports.
Nigeria received 12 F-7Ni fighters and three FT-7Ni
trainers from China, with deliveries commencing in 2009.
An F-7Ni crashed in May 2012 whilst another one was
lost in March 2011.
Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Sabundu
Badeh, said the Pakistanis had sent teams to look at the
F-7s and instruct the Nigerian Air Force. He added that
in addition to the F-7s, the NAF was looking for
assistance with its C-130 transport aircraft, as well as
instructor pilots for them, and also wanted help training
pilots at the Nigerian Air Academy. Nigeria is in the
process of refurbishing some of its grounded C-130s.
Butt’s visit comes after Badeh visited Pakistan last year.
Butt also met with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff,
Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, and other officials and agreed
to increase defence cooperation between Pakistan and
Nigeria. He said that the Pakistan Air Force was ready to
cooperate with the NAF regarding combating militancy
and terrorism, especially as this has also been the bane
of Pakistan. Last week the Nigerian Air Force launched
air strikes against Boko Haram militants in the north of
the country. Numerous aircraft, including Alpha Jet
trainers/light attack jets, have been deployed as part of
the operation.

 

[Jango]

Maybe we could send some thunders their way later in the future!

 

[fatman17]

The Pakistan Air Force is assisting the Nigerian Air
Force with maintenance and training for its F-7 fighter
jets and in building the Nigerian Air Force’s capacity.
Last week the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force,
Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, paid an official five-
day visit to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as part of
efforts to strengthen bilateral defence relations. Butt
said he would help the Nigerian Air Force reach its full
potential and promised that “the Pakistani Air Force and
the Defence Industries of Pakistan will not hold anything
back from the Nigerian people and the Nigerian Air
Force. When we cooperate more, we will develop to
reach higher heights,” Pan-African news agency (Pana)
quotes him as saying.
Pana reports that Pakistani Air Force personnel are
present in Nigeria working to maintain Nigerian aircraft.
Two Pakistani pilots are providing technical assistance
for the Air Force’s Chinese-built F-7NI and FT-7NI jets.
Pakistan also operates the type and has trained Nigerian
pilots.
The Pakistanis were brought in following several F-7
crashes and the loss of maintenance schedules, which
resulted in the grounding of the fleet in October 2012.
After assistance from the Pakistan Air Force, the jets
were cleared to fly again, Pana reports.
Nigeria received 12 F-7Ni fighters and three FT-7Ni
trainers from China, with deliveries commencing in 2009.
An F-7Ni crashed in May 2012 whilst another one was
lost in March 2011.
Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Sabundu
Badeh, said the Pakistanis had sent teams to look at the
F-7s and instruct the Nigerian Air Force. He added that
in addition to the F-7s, the NAF was looking for
assistance with its C-130 transport aircraft, as well as
instructor pilots for them, and also wanted help training
pilots at the Nigerian Air Academy. Nigeria is in the
process of refurbishing some of its grounded C-130s.
Butt’s visit comes after Badeh visited Pakistan last year.
Butt also met with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff,
Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, and other officials and agreed
to increase defence cooperation between Pakistan and
Nigeria. He said that the Pakistan Air Force was ready to
cooperate with the NAF regarding combating militancy
and terrorism, especially as this has also been the bane
of Pakistan. Last week the Nigerian Air Force launched
air strikes against Boko Haram militants in the north of
the country. Numerous aircraft, including Alpha Jet
trainers/light attack jets, have been deployed as part of
the operation.

posted already...

 

[fatman17]

Thursday, May 23, 2013


PAF chief observes tri-national air exercise in Saudi Arabia


* Exercise among RSAF, TuAF and PAF was held at King Fahd Air Base from May 6 to 22


ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt observed International Air Exercise Peace Falcons-2013 in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

On his arrival he was presented with the Guard of Honour. The air chief was given a comprehensive briefing on the exercise. Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lt General Mohammed Fayadh bin Hamid Al Ruwaili and Turkish

Air Force (TuAF) Commander, General Mehmet Erten also witnessed the exercise.

According to a press release issued by PAF, the Tri Nation International Air Exercise Peace Falcons-2013 among RSAF, TuAF and PAF was held at King Fahd Air Base, Taif, Saudi Arabia from May 6 to 22.

PAF Contingent comprising F16s, Mirages Rose-II and 180 personnel participated in the Exercise with members of other two brother countries.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have a long history of military cooperation.

The Air Forces of these brotherly countries have been successfully conducting joint exercises for many decades to enhance mutual understanding among them.

In this exercise, the contingents of three Air Forces undertook joint planning and execution of various combat missions.

The exercise will hone their professional skills and enhance existing brotherly relations between the three countries and their Air Forces.

Earlier, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, who is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, also called on Lt General Mohammed Fayadh bin Hamid Al Ruwaili at RSAF HQs. Both the dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest and various fields of future cooperation between the two brotherly Air Forces. The Air Chief also met with Pakistani contingent which is providing training of Mushshak aircraft to RSAF personnel at King Faisal Air Academy. app

 

[fatman17]

Major Flaws in Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report


Friday, 17 May 2013

Written by Nasim Yousaf

The Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report (HRCR) is missing many crucial pieces of the puzzle with regards to the factors that led to the division of Pakistan (into Pakistan and Bangladesh) in 1971. A fresh inquiry is needed to fill this major gap.

On December 16, 1971, Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) achieved its independence, following a most humiliating surrender by nearly 90,000 soldiers of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Ten days after the emergence of Bangladesh, the Government of Pakistan (through notification Number: SRO 71, dated December 26, 1971) appointed the Hamoodur Rehman Commission to investigate the events leading up to the surrender of the armed forces of Pakistan in East Pakistan and the ceasefire on the borders of West Pakistan. The Commission was comprised of three senior judges: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Hamoodur Rehman, Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Anwarul Haq, and Chief Justice of the Sind and Baluchistan High Court Justice Tufail Ali Abdul Rehman Zubedi. However, when the Commission completed its inquiry, the final report was promptly shelved in order to keep its findings hidden.

In August of 2000, extracts from the Commission’s final report were leaked and published by “India Today.” Thereafter, the HRC report was printed in book form by a Pakistani publisher under the title The Report of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission of Inquiry into the 1971 War [Declassified by the Government of Pakistan]. As per the contents of this book, the original HRC report had “4000 typed pages” and “374 exhibits.” However, the published version of the report included only 545 pages (the full version does not appear to have been published).


I am currently doing research on the late Air Commodore M. Zafar Masud (recipient of the Hilal-e-Jurat and Sitara-i-Basalat awards), who was the Air Officer Commanding, East Pakistan (1970-1971), and considered to be the future Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. I have reviewed the published (545 page) Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report (HRCR) and found that the HRCR has many inadequacies. More specifically, below are some major items that were excluded from the report:

Air Commodore Masud’s briefing to the late President of Pakistan, General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, at a conference held on March 16, 1971 in Dhaka (a copy of this briefing was also sent to then Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistani Air Force, Air Marshal Abdur Rahim Khan). This conference, attended by many Army Generals, took place only ten days prior to the military action in East Pakistan.

Details of Air Commodore Masud’s resignation and his dispute with the President of Pakistan and Air Marshal Rahim Khan over the use of force (Commodore Masud sacrificed his bright military career to try and save the country from breaking up).

A recorded interview of Air Commodore Masud by the Hamoodur Rehman Commission. The commission recorded interviews with members of the armed forces. However, Air Commodore Masud’s statement is not included in the HRCR interviews that were released. It is unknown whether Air Commodore Masud’s statement was recorded and omitted from the published report or if it was not recorded at all. If it was not recorded, then one must question why the Commission did not document such an important point of view (Air Commodore Masud was still alive when the HRCR was prepared; he died in 2003).

In addition to the omission of vital details regarding Air Commodore Masud, the HRCR also ignores crucial mistakes by Pakistan’s founding fathers and the Pakistani establishment in the years leading up to the division of the country in 1971. Key pieces of information overlooked by the report in this regard include:

The intolerance and suppression of opposition leaders (including Allama Mashriqi in West Pakistan and Maulana Bhashani in East Pakistan) from 1947 onwards. This type of treatment destroyed democracy from the very birth of Pakistan.

Allama Mashriqi’s warning regarding the break-up of Pakistan during his speech at a public meeting at Iqbal Park (Lahore) in 1956. Mashriqi stated, “Ye Muslims! Today from this platform I sound you a warning…In 1970 — I see it clearly — the nation will be stormed from all sides. The internal situation would have deteriorated gravely. A panic of widespread bloodshed will sweep the nation. The frenzy of racial and provincial prejudices will grip the whole country. Zindabad and murdabad will defean your ears.

Plans will be initiated to dismember the country. Take it from me that in 1970, Pakistan will be plagued with a grave threat to its sovereignty. You might actually lose it if the reigns of the country were not in the hands of courageous and unrelenting leadership.” This forewarning was based on the mishandling of political affairs in the East wing.

Mashriqi’s various suggestions to the top leadership of Pakistan to keep the two wings of Pakistan united.

The Bengalis’ resentment of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Founder of Pakistan) as a result of disagreements over issues such as his failure to accept Bengali as a national language (see Jinnah’s speech in Dhaka on March 21, 1948).

The discrimination against East Pakistan that led to the total collapse of Jinnah’s Muslim League in the first provincial elections held in 1954 in East Pakistan.

Given these gross oversights, it seems that the true intention of the HRCR was not to actually study the circumstances that led to the debacle of East Pakistan; rather, it was to shift blame away from the political leadership and toward other groups, including the Armed Forces, India, and the Hindus of East Pakistan. In doing so, the report completely overlooked the most unfortunate actions of the Pakistani political leadership and the establishment from the time that the country was formed in 1947. It is clear that the HRC report, as it stands, is incomplete and cannot be viewed as an objective account of the reasons for the break-up of the country in 1971.

The recent general elections provide some hope for a new Pakistan. But a new Pakistan requires a fundamental rethinking of every major institution in the country and a correction of the nation’s flawed educational syllabus and concocted history books.

This massive overhaul can take place only when the masses are provided with unbiased knowledge of the nation’s history, the mistakes of its founding fathers, the opposing views of Jinnah’s contemporaries (including Allama Mashriqi), and how the country’s democratic institutions were eroded from the very outset. Therefore, the new Government must reopen the inquiry and appoint a new commission to look into the break-up of the nation in 1971. It should empower this commission to write openly without reservation and examine all issues comprehensively (including the points mentioned in this article), from 1947 to 1971. This new report would enable the nation to turn the page on a deplorable and depressing period in its history and serve as an extremely important step towards avoiding another break-up of the nation.

Note: The author invites information and photos from the public about Air Commodore Zafar Masud and his role as the Air Officer Commanding, East Pakistan (1970-1971).

The author can be reached via Facebook or by sending a message to infomashriqi@yahoo.comThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Nasim Yousaf, a scholar and historian, is committed to uncovering the true facts in South Asian history. Thus far, he has written ten books along with many articles. His works are a valuable contribution to the historiography of the Indian sub-continent and have provided new dimensions to India’s partition episode. Currently, he is working on additional books and articles, including one on Air Commodore Zafar Masud.

Zafar Masud was the Base Commander at Sargodha during the 65 War and was awarded the HJ.

 

[fatman17]

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Defence ministry notified in PAF official’s death


KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed Defence Ministry secretary and base commander Pakistan Air Force (PAF), to furnish their replies on a petition seeking post-mortem report of deceased squadron leader. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam along with respondents directed federal law officer to file comments. The petitioner, Mehrunisa, stated that she was informed by the officials at Minhas Air base that her son Squadron Leader Sadiq Anwar Kazi, died in his office of cardiac arrest. She had written a letter to PAF base commander for a probe into the incident and provision of post mortem report, however, neither did she receive a reply nor any report. The petitioner stated that she came to know from some sources, that her son’s death, was unnatural, therefore, she prayed to the court to direct respondents to provide them inquiry and post mortem reports. ppi



any details....by anyone?

 

[Jango]

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Defence ministry notified in PAF official’s death


KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed Defence Ministry secretary and base commander Pakistan Air Force (PAF), to furnish their replies on a petition seeking post-mortem report of deceased squadron leader. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mushir Alam along with respondents directed federal law officer to file comments. The petitioner, Mehrunisa, stated that she was informed by the officials at Minhas Air base that her son Squadron Leader Sadiq Anwar Kazi, died in his office of cardiac arrest. She had written a letter to PAF base commander for a probe into the incident and provision of post mortem report, however, neither did she receive a reply nor any report. The petitioner stated that she came to know from some sources, that her son’s death, was unnatural, therefore, she prayed to the court to direct respondents to provide them inquiry and post mortem reports. ppi



any details....by anyone?

DOnt know about this but why is the case in Sindh High court? The death took place in Kamra...

 

[fatman17]

DOnt know about this but why is the case in Sindh High court? The death took place in Kamra...

maybe the mother lives in karachi

 

[fatman17]

Aerostats...

Radar-carrying aerostats similar to the TARS have been supplied to Middle East countries since the 1980s. TCOM was originally a subsidiary of Westinghouse, which sold TPS-63-equipped versions to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The UAE has acquired at least one 420,000-cu-ft aerostat for airspace surveillance. Pakistan is reported to be acquiring six L-88 radar-carrying aerostats. India bought Elta-radar equipped aerostats from Israel to monitor the Pakistan border, one of which was lost in “difficult weather” but the country ordered more as a response to the seaborne terrorist attack on Mumbai.

 

[Jango]

Aerostats...

Radar-carrying aerostats similar to the TARS have been supplied to Middle East countries since the 1980s. TCOM was originally a subsidiary of Westinghouse, which sold TPS-63-equipped versions to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The UAE has acquired at least one 420,000-cu-ft aerostat for airspace surveillance. Pakistan is reported to be acquiring six L-88 radar-carrying aerostats. India bought Elta-radar equipped aerostats from Israel to monitor the Pakistan border, one of which was lost in “difficult weather” but the country ordered more as a response to the seaborne terrorist attack on Mumbai.

Sir jee old news, there is a video as well in which a L 88 features for a short while, although the video ia grainy. It was discussed here as well, Last Hope posted it.

And there are also Google earth images of L 88 near nuclear installations, http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4835/k15z.jpg

This one is near Kahuta.

 

[fatman17]

Sir jee old news, there is a video as well in which a L 88 features for a short while, although the video ia grainy. It was discussed here as well, Last Hope posted it.

And there are also Google earth images of L 88 near nuclear installations, http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4835/k15z.jpg

news to me....

 

[mylovepakistan]

So today is May 27....
Ummm....when PAF was put on 'Nuclear defence alert' exactly 15 years ago...

 

[fatman17]

So today is May 27....
Ummm....when PAF was put on 'Nuclear defence alert' exactly 15 years ago...

yes indeed. F-16 caps

 

[mosu]

is TALHAR airbase is operational ? which jets are stationed there?

 

[fatman17]

is TALHAR airbase is operational ? which jets are stationed there?

location please for the ignorant on this forum