News Analysis |
‘Shaheen-VI’, a Pak-China joint air exercise, was concluded at China’s Korla Air Base on Wednesday, this was announced in a press release issued by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
Contingents from both sides participated with modern fighter jets and support elements in the Shaheen-VI exercise, which continued for three weeks.
Air Vice Marshal Haseeb Paracha flew a mission in a J-11 fighter aircraft belonging to China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
Read more: Pakistan’s bomb turns 19: Were Pakistan & India 1998 nuclear tests…
Importance of this exercise
Experts believe that India did not conduct any surgical strikes inside Pakistan in the wake of Uri attack and that Indian DGMO boasted of such an attack only to appease the infuriated populace back home
This exercise comes at a time when India is flexing its muscles. A few days ago, Indian COAS, Gen Bipin Rawat stated that surgical strikes inside Pakistan is a possibility and that Indian armed forces have the capability to conduct such strikes whenever the need arises.
This statement came at the heels of month’s long stand-off between China and India in Doklam which exacerbated tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Military experts in China, India, and Pakistan are of the view that India must not risk a cross-border surgical strike in Pakistan since it can quickly escalate into a full-blown war between the two states. They added that India does not have the capability to conduct such strikes. The technology India possesses can easily be detected and targeted by Pakistani forces.
Read more: Larry Pressler still obsessed with Pakistan nukes; wants them destroyed by…
Military experts in China, India, and Pakistan are of the view that India must not risk a cross-border surgical strike in Pakistan since it can quickly escalate into a full-blown war between the two states
PAF regularly conducts such exercises to test its combat readiness to ward off infiltration by its adversaries into Pakistan’s territory. A month ago, PAF conducted exercises in Karakoram sector in which Chief of Air Staff Sohail Aman also took part. Talking to media, Aman said that Pakistan Air Force is ever ready to defend its borders and warned Pakistan’s ‘enemies’ not to risk any adventure.
Experts believe that India did not conduct any surgical strikes inside Pakistan in the wake of Uri attack and that Indian DGMO boasted of such an attack only to appease the infuriated populace back home. However, the recent statement by Indian Army Chief might have been made to lay the groundwork for future limited strikes inside Pakistan.