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COAS flies F-16, takes part in operation

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AllGreen and Agno,

If our COAS was the COAS of a developed and rich country and if Pakistan was among the G-8 nations, it was all fine. But we are beggars and there is no other word that describes Pakistan's financial situation. Money wasted by the civilians (like our -----dent wasting money on foreign tours, or our PM and other cabinet members) or by the military, it is not good. You see some PR in this, I frankly don’t see any. How exactly flying of COAS in the back seat of a fighter jet would boost the morale of the men on the ground, I fail to understand. But than weird things have become kind of a norm in Pakistan and there are always justification for these as well.
 
Setting a precedence in the country’s defence history, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani himself co‑piloted the PAF’s force multiplier ‑ Fighting Falcon ‑ F‑16 aircraft. Daring Gen. Kayani, at the age of 58, clad in G‑Suit as a PAF’s fighter pilot embarked upon a mission from an Operational Air Base of the country on Monday.

He kept flying in the combat aircraft which usually ferries at over double speed of sound for an around one hour and viewed his brave troops engaged on ground in Operation Rah‑e‑Raast in various parts of Malakand, Swat and Bannu.

On his return from the mission, the COAS looked fresh like a professional pilot with soft smile on his face.

The Chief of Air Staff, Rao Qamar Suleman who warmly sent off COAS on the mission, greeted him on his return from a successful sortie.

“The level of coordination and cooperation between PAF and Pakistan Army was on ascend and will continue to further as the time passes by. This shows our resolve and commitment to the cause of the motherland,” he said.

Gen. Kayani, after taking over as Chief of Army Staff first ever visited any Operational Base of PAF and greeted personally the men and officers of the sister force.

He also addressed the airmen and officers and presented salute to their courage and valour besides the commitment to defend the country.

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Well, I think it is great PR when the COAS gets out into the "trenches"! However, I would advise him not to be photographed with a huge "Mission Accomplished" sign in the background as a certain US Commander-in-Chief once was after a PR co-pilot flight.
 
He is shaking hands and saying Sir don't piss in the Air craft please.:lol:
Wing Commander Hatmi OC CCS was the pilot.
Nephew of Late Air Cdre Masood Hatimi
 
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ISLAMABAD (June 15, 2009): Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Monday took part in an air operation against militants.

Kayani flew an F-16 fighter jet himself to hit positions of the militants in Swat and Malakand of NWFP. Kayani, who wore the uniform of a pilot, was accompanied by a co-pilot during the air operation. It is the first time in Pakistan history that an army chief directly took part in an operation.

Earlier, speaking at an operational base at Sargodha in the eastern Punjab province, Kayani said that the operation "Rahe Raast" (true path) in Swat and Malakand.

He said that the operation was not a solution to the problem and a solution would be hammered out in accordance with the traditions and culture of the tribal area. He said that Pakistan did not require advice from anywhere.

Describing it as an important war, the army chief said that the utmost care was being made to avoid civilian casualties in the operation.

He said that more than 100 soldiers had lost their lives in the war but their sacrifices would not go in vain and the militants would completely be wiped out.

Kayani said that some misguided elements had nothing to do with Islam and rather they were maligning the name of Islam and creating problems for the country.

He said that salaries of troops engaged at the western borders were being enhanced from the first of next month while others would receive the benefit from January next year.
 
AllGreen and Agno,

If our COAS was the COAS of a developed and rich country and if Pakistan was among the G-8 nations, it was all fine. But we are beggars and there is no other word that describes Pakistan's financial situation. Money wasted by the civilians (like our -----dent wasting money on foreign tours, or our PM and other cabinet members) or by the military, it is not good. You see some PR in this, I frankly don’t see any. How exactly flying of COAS in the back seat of a fighter jet would boost the morale of the men on the ground, I fail to understand. But than weird things have become kind of a norm in Pakistan and there are always justification for these as well.

First of all this has nothing to do with resources since the COAS undertaking an aerial view of the combat in a chopper or other aircraft would have been of similar proportions in terms of cost...
what he did was something quite closer to the combat operation and whereas you can easily dismiss it as something trivial or useless...i am sure that the troops on ground realize that their Chief is amongst them in the front lines and that gives them more than just a little confidence...it makes them a highly motivated force who know that their commanders are in the thick of it with them...
If you talk to the young guns in Army you will be surprised how their morale has increased which was an all time low before Kiyani took over...the way i see it things have only become tougher in Kiyani era so the morale factor can only be attributed to his professionalism and his brilliance as commander in chief.

Had he been sitting in GHQ all the time i am surewe would be hearing the familiar lines of what do our generals know...they are sitting cozy in the GHQ...
now that we have a person who is making all efforts to be at the front lines suddenly we are auditing the resources spent on making it possible for him to be at the front line...he is the COAS and a very competent one at that so try to understand that he is doing different things to make the force much more efficient, motivated and being able to direct joint warfare with all the branches which in the past have been at odds with each other over how to handle the operations.

I am certain it would be much easier for him to sit back, relax, play golf and plan to buy plots in DHA rather than face the hardships in being a very active COAS, so i think respect should be given to a man who truly deserves it.

Anyways at least i really take this as a positive and give Gen. Kiyani 10/10 for leadership in perhaps the toughest war we are facing in our history.
 
Where are the wepons on the aircraft its not even loaded?
 
AllGreen and Agno,

If our COAS was the COAS of a developed and rich country and if Pakistan was among the G-8 nations, it was all fine. But we are beggars and there is no other word that describes Pakistan's financial situation. Money wasted by the civilians (like our -----dent wasting money on foreign tours, or our PM and other cabinet members) or by the military, it is not good. You see some PR in this, I frankly don’t see any. How exactly flying of COAS in the back seat of a fighter jet would boost the morale of the men on the ground, I fail to understand. But than weird things have become kind of a norm in Pakistan and there are always justification for these as well.

An example of waste of precious resource. I don’t get why it was found necessary for him to sit in the back of the F-16 cockpit. If it was for boosting the morale, he could have fired a few rounds of a mortar.

Again the same old qsaark!

How much more would it have costed if the same flight had been taken on a heli or Mushak? It was primarily a 'recce' flight and could have been done on the above mentioned air crafts, BUT i personally feel that ratgher then declaring it a PR stunt it should be taken as: 'an increasing understanding between the two forces of Pakistan, which many like you had been claiming to be on decline since the Kargil thiny'

i am not sure if it is going to boost morale of the Army soldiers but it definitely would make the PAF pilots/men more motivated.

It is just like that your father is patting you on your success (e.g. the video game that you designed) but then your uncle (who usually dont visit you that often) from a far off village comes and plays that game with you! Things start taking a different direction then, atleast for many, if not you!
 
He is shaking hands and saying Sir don't piss in the Air craft please.:lol:
Base Commander Sargodha Air Cdre Arain was the pilot.

he he he, i am sure it was not Pee R!
:cheers:

A good gesture though and much needed focus on Air force and its key role in our defense...a good relation between the different branches of military and the synergy achieved will auger well for Pakistan in its trials ahead!
 
We are getting to hear a lot of indications with the Army leaders (CJCS and COAS) talking heavily about PA/PAF coordination and synchronizing their operational aspects which would be a key element for victory in a future conventional war. The Indians are certainly struggling to implement ambitious plans in their arms coordination, so looks like Pakistan’s got something cooking as well. Probably not something too big like the appointment of a Supreme Joint Commander which would eliminate the operational powers of the services chiefs (I know people in the PAF who wouldn’t be too happy with this) but something to watch out for I’d say. Relations between the PA/PAF seem to be excellent which is always good news.
 
Where are the wepons on the aircraft its not even loaded?
Good point and no reconnaissance pods as well. Maybe PAC has found a way to make the camera/pods and or weapons invisible. These days everything is possible in Pakistan it seems.

i am not sure if it is going to boost morale of the Army soldiers but it definitely would make the PAF pilots/men more motivated.

It is just like that your father is patting you on your success (e.g. the video game that you designed) but then your uncle (who usually dont visit you that often) from a far off village comes and plays that game with you! Things start taking a different direction then, atleast for many, if not you!
If that is the case, than it should be CoAirS and not in the back seat, but in the front, flying and carrying out the mission.
 
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