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Pakistani Female Pilots, report by CNN

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Six years ago an ad in the Sunday paper changed a young Pakistani woman's life and made aviation history.

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Seven Pakistani women are trained to fly the country's F-7 fighter jets -- though none have seen combat so far.

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Pakistani fighter pilot cadets go through their paces at Risalpur air base in Pakistan.

The ad read: "Pakistan Air Force recruiting females cadets."

Back then Ambreen Gul was 20-years old and living in Karachi. Her mother wanted her to be a doctor. She remembers her reaction when she told her she wants to fly.

"She was like: 'You're a girl,'" says Gul. "How will you do it? How will you fly?"

The following day Gul took the first step in proving her mother wrong. She was among the first in line at the recruitment center.

For nearly six decades it was only men who had flown Pakistan's fighter jets. Today Gul is one of seven women who are trained and ready to fly Pakistan's F-7 supersonic fighter jets.

"This is a feeling that makes you proud and makes you humble also," says Gul.
Humility doesn't mean lack of confidence.

"We can do everything better than the men," explains cadet Nida Tariq.
"We're more hardworking, more consistent and more patient," adds cadet Anam Faiq.

To become a fighter pilot takes three years of training at the Air Force Academy in Risalpur, Pakistan, where the halls are lined with grainy black-and-white pictures of nearly six decades of male graduates who went on to fly for the Pakistan Air Force.

The training is often intensely physical. Here, equal opportunity means equal treatment.

If they are not good enough as per their male counterparts, we don't let them fly," says commanding officer Tanvir Piracha.

Some of Pakistan's female pilots wear hijabs. Others prefer to go without the Muslim headdress. Most say changing the misconception of Muslim women is just as important as serving their country.

"Islam gives equal opportunity to females. Whatever we want to do we can," says pilot Nadia Gul.

"To tell you the truth I've been given equal opportunity or I suppose more than men have been given," says Air Force cadet Sharista Beg.

Air Force officials say fighter pilots are playing a vital role in the fight against the Taliban. They're training in counterinsurgency, collecting aerial intelligence and targeting militant strongholds in the treacherous mountains of Pakistan's tribal region along the Afghan border. Ambreen Gul says her goal now is to fly in combat.

"I would give my life for my country," she says.

But women rarely fly in combat anywhere in the world and it's never been done in Pakistan. It's another barrier Gul plans to break.

Pakistan's female fighter pilots break down barriers - CNN.com
 
Seven PAF Female Pilots posted to F-7 Squadron IDRW.ORG

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Six years ago an ad in the Sunday paper changed a young Pakistani woman’s life and made aviation history.The ad read: “Pakistan Air Force recruiting females cadets.”Back then Ambreen Gul was 20-years old and living in Karachi. Her mother wanted her to be a doctor. She remembers her reaction when she told her she wants to fly.
“She was like: ‘You’re a girl,’” says Gul. “How will you do it? How will you fly?”
The following day Gul took the first step in proving her mother wrong. She was among the first in line at the recruitment center.For nearly six decades it was only men who had flown Pakistan’s fighter jets. Today Gul is one of seven women who are trained and ready to fly Pakistan’s F-7 supersonic fighter jets.”This is a feeling that makes you proud and makes you humble also,” says Gul.Humility doesn’t mean lack of confidence.”We can do everything better than the men,” explains cadet Nida Tariq.
“We’re more hardworking, more consistent and more patient,” adds cadet Anam Faiq.To become a fighter pilot takes three years of training at the Air Force Academy in Risalpur, Pakistan, where the halls are lined with grainy black-and-white pictures of nearly six decades of male graduates who went on to fly for the Pakistan Air Force.
The training is often intensely physical. Here, equal opportunity means equal treatment.If they are not good enough as per their male counterparts, we don’t let them fly,” says commanding officer Tanvir Piracha.Some of Pakistan’s female pilots wear hijabs. Others prefer to go without the Muslim headdress. Most say changing the misconception of Muslim women is just as important as serving their country.
“Islam gives equal opportunity to females. Whatever we want to do we can,” says pilot Nadia Gul.To tell you the truth I’ve been given equal opportunity or I suppose more than men have been given,” says Air Force cadet Sharista Beg.
Air Force officials say fighter pilots are playing a vital role in the fight against the Taliban. They’re training in counterinsurgency, collecting aerial intelligence and targeting militant strongholds in the treacherous mountains of Pakistan’s tribal region along the Afghan border. Ambreen Gul says her goal now is to fly in combat.”I would give my life for my country,” she says.
But women rarely fly in combat anywhere in the world and it’s never been done in Pakistan. It’s another barrier Gul plans to break.

Comments under the link you provided:
"tell the **** female pilots to get lost iiiiiin India. we will take good care of t,,,,,hem"

I guess some people just dont have much good to say
 
Awsome video ! i salute our women in our AF and in the armed forces you make us proud each & everyday! and even more iam proud of our nations women period GOD bless you!
 
Go Girls Go >>> Chack Day Phattay :rofl: :D
 
The Saudis must be going crazy having heard this news (ie - they don't even let women drive cars)
 
This initiative have changed the perception, thinking and ideals of many in Pakistan. i am sure they would prove equally lethal if put in combat.

Hey I'm the last one here to say anything even remotely anti-feminist but do you really thing that at the end of the day our commanders, and culture at large, would countenance putting our young women in combat. And, potentially, at the physical and moral depredations of our enemies? Something to think about, eh?
 

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