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RAF gives training tips to the Pakistan Air Force
June 11, 2009

Members of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Flying Instructors School (FIS) have paid a visit to North Yorkshire to come face-to-face with their British RAF counterparts.

The visit to RAF Linton-on-Ouse was part of a fact-finding mission to allow the PAF to find out more about the RAF's training programmes, particularly the advanced courses for pilots.

Linton is home to the Tucano wing of the RAF's Central Flying School and it was explained to the Pakistani visitors how RAF fast-jet pilots are trained, as well as the importance of ground-based training using flight simulators.

Station Commander, Group Captain Mike Longstaff, said that "More than half of the current syllabus at Linton is given over to synthetic training and our colleagues from Pakistan were keen to learn not only about the operational and cost benefits but also the positive environmental impact."

RAF Linton-on-Ouse has close ties with the PAF and operates an ongoing reciprocal exchange system post which is currently filled by Flight Lieutenant Adeel Ahmad.

He said that "I think it's a really important programme. I've learned a great deal during my time here at Linton and will take those lessons back with me to Pakistan. For me personally the biggest thing I have had to learn is how to fly in British weather."

Commanding Officer of the FIS, Wing Commander Kazim Hammad, said that "Our visit to the RAF has allowed us to look at the cross-training ideas we both have and is designed to foster mutual learning. Our Air Forces are very similar to one another - as are our training methods. Indeed the programme of reciprocal visits has taken place now for some forty years.

"We are looking to remake our basic training flight simulators and it has been extremely helpful to see how the RAF uses their simulators."

The Pakistan Air Force was born in August 1947 and began as a tiny auxiliary Service, with a small number of personnel and insignificant equipment, to emerge as a powerful weapon of the country's defence in later years.

PAF defends charges but a probe is needed
June 11, 2009

By Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Defence deals of the Pakistan Air Force in recent years, worth billions of US dollars, need a public scrutiny amid growing reports of kickbacks, procedural violations and compromise on technology.

While a former air chief, Saadat Kaleem, has already accused General Pervez Musharraf of ruining the PAFís $1.2 billion Saab Surveillance System deal by adding the Chinese technology with the Swedish for possible kickbacks, producing a mismatch, some insiders insist that the situation is worse than what the former air chief has hinted at.

A credible source said that the PAFís Air Board had been bypassed in quite a few defence deals during the recent years owing to pressures both from within and outside the force. The PAF spokesman, however, insists that the contracting of various items is the prime responsibility of the concerned branch of the Air Headquarters and is not required to be discussed and approved by the Air Board.

Before the last major PAF deal worth $1 billion for the first consignment of JF-17 aircraft, an influential Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilot having close association with a key ruler in Islamabad was seen visiting the top offices at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad. Following these visits towards the end of January 2009, the $1 billion deal on JF-17 moved on a fast track. The same PIA employee interestingly travelled to China, along with President Asif Ali Zardari, in February this year to obtain a one billion dollar loan.

PAF spokesman Group Captain Tariq Mehmood, however, did not respond to the question about the strange visits of strangers to the Air Headquarters before the loan contract was signed. Mehmood said that the JF-17 serial production contract was being negotiated since December 2006 and was almost finalised in June 2008 but could not be concluded due to non-release of funds by the government.

This delay, he said, was adversely affecting the operational capability of the PAF and the work at the PAC Kamra. ìSince then, efforts are being made for the arrangement of funds,î the PAF spokesman said in a note that he gave to this correspondent in response to a number of queries e-mailed to him. For quite some time, the spokesman was hesitant to respond to The News queries but later came up with his response on selected questions, still requesting to delay the story by a few weeks.

A source disclosed that the March deal of $1 billion was not presented before the JF-17 projectís Board of Directors for approval, but the PAF spokesman said: ìThe JF-17 Board of Directors was regularly updated on the status of the JF-17 Serial Production (SP) contract.î

He said that in January 2009, a presentation was given to the president, the prime minister and other cabinet members following which the federal government directed the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance to take up the matter with the Chinese authorities for concessional credit. ìSubsequently, with the efforts of Pakistanís ambassador to China and the PAF, the seller (CATIC) offered a sellerís credit facility for the SP Contract.î

The spokesman said that on the instructions of the prime minister, the offer was subsequently negotiated by a joint team of the PAF, JF-17 project representative, the Ministry of Finance and the Pakistan Embassy.

He said that the case was finally put up for the governmentís approval, which was later approved. An agreement was then signed for a credit of about $1 billion to be payable over seven years at a cost of around $100 million (approximately at the rate of 1.4 per cent per year).

The PAF spokesman did not clearly respond if the JF-17 BoD and the PAFís Air Board approved the proposal too. He dispelled the impression that the loan had been obtained at an extraordinary mark-up. Sources said the prevalent rate in the world was less than one per cent.

ìThis is the most economical credit facility ever negotiated,î said the spokesman, adding after the formal approval of the government, the contract was signed by the JF-17 PMO and the PAC Kamra on March 7. ìAll principal staff officers at the Air Headquarters and the Chinese ambassador witnessed the signing ceremony.î

Tariq Mahmood said that the JF-17 contract was signed on highly favourable terms that included transfer of technology for airframe manufacturing immediately and avionics package next year. The contract, he said, heralds the realisation and commitment of both Pakistan and China to turn their cherished dream of co-producing a modern fighter into a reality and beginning of a new era of aviation industry in Pakistan.

According to a source, besides the latest deal, the PAF Air Board was also ignored in a few other deals worth $800 million struck with Brazil, South Africa, Russia and Italy in the last few years for purchase of different technologies for the PAF.

Tariq Mehmood, however, explained every case was not supposed to go to the Air Board for approval. He said the vice chief of the air staff, who manages the PAF budget, allocates funds for all such contracts and hence is always in the loop for such authorisations by the Air Headquarters.

He said once the proposal was approved by the Air Headquarters, the ministries of defence and finance do further scrutiny, hold negotiations and finalise contracts. The process is totally transparent and above board. The Air Board is periodically apprised of all these issues,î he claimed. The sources said in the coming few years, defence deals worth $8-10 billion were expected for which the government should evolve a mechanism so that right purchases were made for the countryís air force without any chance of kickbacks.

Ex-Pakistani officer lays it bare on Army's Kargil betrayal
June 12, 2009

NEW DELHI: A former Pakistani Air Force (PAF) officer has called the bluff of his country's politicians and military on the Kargil battle, ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 1999 conflict in the icy heights of Jammu and Kashmir.

Retired Air Commodore M Kaiser Tufail, a former Director of Operations with PAF when the two countries fought a two-month-long battle and the person who had interrogated IAF pilot K Nachiketa after his MiG-27 had crashed in Pakistan, has come out with all the details of Pakistani military's machinations to execute its vicious plan to hoodwink Indian troops.

In the latest issue of 'Vayu Aerospace and Defence Review', a magazine published by a private firm, Tufail has written that General Pervez Musharraf, 10 Corps Commander Lt Gen Mehmud Ahmad and Northern Areas Commander Maj Gen Javed Hasan -- the "trio" as he describes them -- had kept the plans to themselves, not even taking their commanders lower down the hierarchical order into confidence.

However, Tufail, who had written a similar and almost verbatim article for 'Defence and Security of India' magazine's February issue this year, said the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was in the know of the Army's plans, but had not approved it in toto.

The same trio, in their previous ranks and appointments, had put forth a similar plan on paper to wrest control of Siachen, which was brought to the notice of Sharif's predecessor late Benazir Bhutto. But she was "well-versed in international affairs and all too intelligent to be taken in by the chicanery," Tufail said.

Source: www.expressbuzz.com

PAF swings into action to avenge Naeemi’s murder
June 13, 2009

TANK: Thirteen people, including militants and a few non-combatants, were killed when air force planes pounded militants’ positions in South Waziristan on Saturday, in response to the assassination of a revered religious scholar by the Taliban in Lahore, military and other sources said.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan of Baitullah Mehsud had claimed responsibility for suicide attacks in the Lahore seminary of Allama Sarfaraz Naeemi and in a mosque in Nowshera.

The main target of the air strikes was in Makeen area, the headquarters of Baitullah Mehsud. Local people said five planes took part in the attack that started at around 8am.

The bombing flattened the building of a higher secondary school in Shakerkot area of Makeen. Militants had occupied the building and used it for their activities.

(According to APP, in response to the suicide attack on Jamia Naeemia ‘two terrorists compounds were targeted by PAF in Makeen, South Waziristan Agency. The number of casualties following the air strikes at compounds occupied by terrorists could not be ascertained immediately.’)

Houses of three tribesmen — Shah Jehan Mehsud, Wali Malik Shai and Shah Khan Abdulai — were also bombed.

The sources said that the grandson of Khagai Abdulai was injured while the daughter-in-law of Shapool Mehsud was killed. Three foreigners were also injured in the attack.

Security officials said that seven militants were killed and five others injured in the fresh offensive in Makeen.

However, local militants denied the claim and said that one girl was killed and three children and a watchman were injured.

There were unconfirmed reports that the head of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Tahir Yaldeshiv, had been injured in the air strike. The houses of the tribesmen bombed were occupied by foreign militants, according to the sources.

On Friday night, officials said, security forces pounded suspected locations in Zara Serwakai and killed five militants. Troops also fired artillery from Jandola Fort hitting targets in Serwakai. Taliban sources confirmed they had suffered casualties, but did not give figures.

Meanwhile, more tribesmen left their homes in Makeen area and were seen moving to the adjacent North Waziristan. Shopkeepers have closed their shops.

In Bajaur, six militants were killed and several others injured when air and ground forces carried out joint strikes against militants’ strongholds.

A seminary was also hit and militants’ bodies were seen lying in the nearby fields. Troops launched attacks in Charmang area on Friday.

According to sources, ground forces entered Tangi, the centre of Charmang, on Saturday. Reinforcements were on way to the area.

Source: Dawn News

PAF Jets pound Baitullah’s stronghold
June 14, 2009

By Mushtaq Yusufzai & Irfan Burki

PESHAWAR/WANA: The government finally launched a military offensive against the Baitullah Mehsud-led Taliban militants in areas inhabited by the Mehsuds in the South Waziristan Agency, where 12 suspected militants were reportedly killed and several others injured as Pakistan Air Force (PAF) warplanes bombed their hideouts on Saturday.

Military spokesman and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Athar Abbas said the action was taken in response to the suicide attack on prominent anti-Taliban cleric Dr Mufti Sarfaraz Naeemi in Lahore.

He said two compounds, used for terrorist training, had been destroyed in bombing by jet fighters.

Besides the fighter jets, security forces from Razmak military camp in North Waziristan also targeted suspected militants’ positions in the adjoining Makeen town of South Waziristan tribal region.

With the launch of massive bombing, a large number of Mehsud families started fleeing their homes in Makeen, Ladha and Kotkai and shifted to relatively safer places in the agency.

Makeen, located near Razmak in North Waziristan, is said to be a stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud-led militants.

Tribal sources told The News from Makeen and Razmak that three warplanes on Saturday blitzed suspected locations of the militants.

Initial reports said 12 militants had been killed and several others injured in the bombing.

There were no details about the killing of any prominent militant commander of Baitullah Mehsud in the air strikes and artillery shelling on their positions.

According to sources, the jet fighters targeted a portion of the Government High School building in Makeen and some houses.

In the areas of Mehsuds, majority of the government-run schools have been occupied by the Taliban militants and turned into base camps or training centres, government officials said.

Militant sources said Baitullah had already called his fighters back to his native Waziristan, who had gone to fight alongside their fellow fighters in Swat, Buner, Dir, Mohmand and Bajaur, to counter the growing movement of the armed forces in their strongholds like Ladha, Spinkai Raghzai and Makeen.

After sudden bombing by the warplanes, shops and markets were immediately closed in Makeen and the residents started fleeing their homes for safer places in the neighbouring North Waziristan.

Tribesmen said they wanted to shift their families to Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts but they could not do so as all the exit and entry points to South Waziristan had been closed at the Spinkai Raghzai area of the agency and the Bakakhel area of the Frontier Region (FR) Bannu where the troops had launched a full-scale military operation.

Also, the authorities imposed curfew in Tank district for an indefinite period due to bombing on militants’ positions in Makeen. Officials argued that the curfew was clamped in Tank due to fears of possible terrorist attacks on government installations by the militants after bombing of their positions. All government offices and markets remained closed in the district.

Similarly, tension gripped the adjoining North Waziristan where the militants led by Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur threatened to scrap their peace accord with the government if it did not halt the military operation in FR Bakakhel and Janikhel areas of Bannu.

Gul Bahadur claimed the government had promised them in the February 17, 2008 peace accord that there would be no military operation against the Taliban in North Waziristan and FR Bakakhel and Janikhel areas.

He warned that his fighters would go to Bannu to fight alongside their fellow fighters against security forces as the military operation was a violation of the peace accord.

However, a Jirga of Utmanzai tribal elders and clerics was endeavouring to resolve the differences between the government and Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Taliban.

COAS takes aerial view of Operation area on-board F-16
June 15, 2009

ISLAMABAD: 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,â€

Pakistani General flies back seat in a F-16
June 15, 2009

By by Asif Shamim

Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, flew of over the Swat valley in the North West Frontier Province to see first hand the ongoing fight against the militants who have besieged the region.

This was the first visit by the General to an operational base of the Pakistan Air Force after taking over as Chief of Army Staff and he was warmly greeted by his airforce counterpart, Chief of Air Staff, Rao Qamar Suleman.

The flight lasting little over an hour in a F-16B (#84608) from 9 Sqn was a show of force for his troops who are engaged in battling the militants in Operation Rah-e-Raast in various parts of Malakand, Swat and Bannu.

The secondary objective was to show the tight coordination between the air force and army, and to maintain public morale for the ongoing and widening offensive.

On his return he made a small speech to locally gathered airforce officials in which he discussed how difficult it is to distinguish between enemies and friends in a campaign against domestic militants.

"The biggest challenge is to differentiate between black and white in this war," General Kayani said in his address, which was broadcast on private television networks. "People can go astray. They need to be brought to the righteous path," he said, referring to the militants.

"This is not a war (against) Islam," he said. "Islam is our foundation. The problem is extremism and terrorism."

PAF-Army express solidarity to face challenges confronting nation
June 15, 2009

PAF OPERATIONAL BASE: Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army expressed complete solidarity and oneness in successfully meeting the challenges confronted to the nation with the spirit of hand and glove. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman who visited the base along with senior officers of both the forces also addressed the airmen on the occasion.

Chief of Army Staff Gen. Kayani spoke at length on the issue of extremism and terrorism and strongly condemned such trends of a handful of elements.

He said that the Operation Rah-e-Raast was chosen as a last option after exercising various peaceful options.

He said that the present situation is totally different from the situation of war where, the enemy is well-known but in this situation the enemy is hard to be identified.

He said differentiation between friend and foe is very difficult in this situation. “We want to see peaceful - picturesque and beautiful Swat once again,â€

Baitullah’s hideouts bombed
June 20, 2009

By Irfan Burki & Mushtaq Yusufzai

WANA/TANK: Amid reports of Nato’s assistance in military offensive against Baitullah Mehsud-led Taliban, Pakistani warplanes and gunship choppers continued pounding suspected hideouts of the militants in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), killing six militants.

Sources told that two jet fighters of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Pakistan Army’s two gunship choppers bombed the suspected hideouts of TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud in Barwand, Madejan, Serwakai and adjoining areas.

Also, the sources said artillery shells were fired from the Frontier Corps camps in Jandola and Serwakai towards the suspected hideouts of the militants in various parts of the SWA. There was no chance of getting actual information of the region as telecommunication system had been disrupted for the past several days.

Military officials said six militants were killed and several others injured when gunship choppers targeted their positions near Serwakai. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said the operation was conducted for reopening the main road between Tanai and Serwakai.

He said the militants had blocked a portion of the main Wana-Jandola road for quite some time and set up their positions.He rejected reports of Nato’s involvement and assistance to the Pakistan Army in any military operation against the militants in the country.

“There is no truth in all such reports. Only the Pakistani troops have been engaged in all such operations against the militants whether they are in Swat, Dir or Waziristan,â€

General Majid lauds PAF role in Operation
June 20, 2009

KARACHI: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Tariq Majid has said that “landmark achievements in military profession bring with them heavy responsibilities and challenges of leadership, command and resource management, both during peace and warâ€