Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan Khan
PAK-China joint air exercise “Shaheen-IX” is now going in the country which vividly reflects strong defence ties and military cooperation between the two countries which have strategic partnership too. It has been a regular but prominent feature of Air-Forces of both the countries for the last so many years which has multiplier effects in terms of operationalization and channelization of the war preparedness, tactical as well as strategical designs/strategies and finally, regional security. War clouds are again spreading on the regional horizons in the shape of imminent Indian surgical strike against Pakistan. In this connection, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited operational base of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and witnessed the ongoing exercise. It is the series of joint exercise between Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) since 2011 and are held in Pakistan and China alternatively.
While addressing participants, General Bajwa appreciated the Pak-China joint air force drill which substantially improved combat capacity of the both air forces and further enhance interoperability between them with greater strength and harmony. He termed joint training ventures vital to increase combat readiness of both countries to face emerging geo-strategic challenges. He lauded the professionalism and dedication of PAF and reiterated the importance of inter-services harmony and synergy for operational success. He labelled PAF “second to none” having high morale and thorough professionalism of its personnel. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, PAF welcomed combat pilots and military aircraft from China as they arrived for joint air force drills in Pakistan to further enhance defence cooperation between the two countries. Pakistan-China joint air drill, called ‘Shaheen-IX’, is currently underway in Pakistan. A contingent of People’s Liberation Army Air Force, comprising combat pilots, air defence controllers and technical ground crew is participating in the exercise.
At the opening ceremony, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Sulehri, the Deputy Chief of Pakistan’s Air Staff (Operations), said the exercise offers “opportunity to further enhance interoperability of both the air forces, thereby fortifying brotherly relations between the two countries.” On his part, Chinese Major Gen. Sun Hong, the Assistant Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, said the Pak-China air drills would improve actual level of combat training” and further strengthen cooperation between the two air forces. It is reported that drills include China’s fourth generation Shenyang J-11, Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter aircraft, Chengdu F-7 interceptor as well as the JF-17 Thunder multirole combat aircraft, jointly developed by Pakistan and China.
It is hoped that ongoing joint air force exercise will help bolster practical military cooperation in the future between Pakistan and China. The drills are being held a week after Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe visited Pakistan and signed a new defence accord to further deepen military cooperation. The visit of Chinese Defence Minister and the exercise are considered significant developments in the region because of the complex and complicated geo-political (deteriorating landscape of occupied Kashmir, escalating tension at the LOC) and geostrategic trends (China-India stand-off at Ladakh) in the region. Pakistan has shared sustainable defence, economic and strategic cooperation and ties with China since the 1950s. Defence collaboration forms the backbone of Pakistan-China relationship with frequent high-level military exchanges, joint exercises, training of personnel, joint defence production and defence trade. Now CPEC has climaxed Pak-China bilateral economic ties. The two strategic partners also enjoy an extensive range of cooperation including defence partnerships, joint ventures, particularly the production of aircraft, submarines, tanks and other military equipment.
The air exercise “Shaheen-IX” is designed to further strengthen the existing exemplary bonds between the two air forces, learn modern air warfare mechanics and share operational skills among pilots, radar controllers and other team members. On its part, PAF regularly undertakes similar operational exercises both inland and abroad to remain abreast of challenges and response strategies faced by air power in changing threat environment. The exercise is a great advantage for both air forces, as Chinese pilots got a chance to fly against an adversary whose training and tactics were Western based and PAF got a chance to fly against a new type. Furthermore, the joint drill is intended to boost cooperation between China and Pakistan and will be a source of valuable experience for pilots on both sides. The exercise is a “multi dimensional” and involves operations in “near real scenarios.”
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was established in 1947 as Royal Pakistan Air Force. The Pakistan defence force has approximately more than 700 fighters and other types of aircraft and nowadays PAF is concentrating and working out on fighter aircraft. In collaboration with China modern fighter aircraft are being constructed by Chinese and Pakistani aircraft engineers. PAF has always maintained the highest state of preparedness and professional excellence. The PAF has repeatedly proved equal to the task even in the most difficult times and has measured up to the expectations of the nation in safeguarding the sacred soil and aerial frontiers of Pakistan.” It is PAF’s commitment to the nation that despite all odds, its resolve will remain unshakable in defending the territorial integrity of Pakistan against any aggression at any cost. Being the first line of physical defence, the PAF needs to continuously build up its capability for an even more assured aerial defence.
Joint training/drill is not an end but a new starting point which will deepen, broaden and promote the friendship, exchanges and cooperation between China and Pakistan, the two-defence forces and specially the two Air Forces. The SHAHEEN series of exercises began in 2011 and was originally designed to allow the air forces of China and Pakistan to cooperate more effectively. SHAHEEN-I took place in 2011 in Pakistan and SHAHEEN-II took place in 2013 in China. More broadly, the exercises are designed to cement military-to-military ties between the two countries. Being a prominent regional expert of China, I suggest that both countries should collaborate in developing of 5th generation war jets which would divert regional air supremacy towards two regional allies i.e. Pakistan and China. Indian obsession of Rafale war jets creates sense of shifting balance of power which needs to be ratified as soon as possible by extending military cooperation in terms of joint production of most advanced avionic apparatus/systems and JF-17 thunder block IV as soon as possible.
—The writer is Director, Geopolitics/Economics Member Board of Experts, CGSS.
