IAF losing edge over PAF:Military Intelligence
PAF's primary focus in case of contingency is ensure PAF's control over Pakistani Air Space, its next major work is to provide support to armored formations in SEAD, CAS. Equally important task for PAF is Air Interdiction and strategic bombing and maintaining logistics for the ground forces .
PAF's main focus remains defensive with secondary (but very important) offensive capabilities.
PAF F16/j10B's/mirages for Air Superiority/ Air interdiction and strategic bombing missions
J10B's/F16A/B's for point defense against aggressor forces
Thats why PAF tends to favor Multirole aircrafts instead of dedicated air supremacy or ground attack aircrafts giving PAF a heavy degree of flexibility in there operations.
IAF's primary focus in the western theater is to achieve air supremacy over Pakistani airspace via quick strike operations and Air superiority missions, along with heavy Deep penetration strike missions. Secondary operations are to provide strategic cover to vital installations and advancing armored columns. Next focus of IAF is to repel PAF in Indian airspace. This is where maybe india needs to induct a fighter aircraft in large numbers to counter PAF.
SU30 MKI/Mig 29 SMT/Mirage 2000IN - Air superiority and air interdiction
Jaguar DARIN II / Mig 27 - CAS and deep penetration strike
Su30MKI - Strategic bombing
Mig 21 Bison/ LCA - Point defense air superiority/ interception
Most strike packages will have a mix of the mentioned aircrafts in different configurations whereas defensive formations will not be very flexible for both IAF and PAF
large number aircrafts are going to be introduced in next few years in the theater in larger numbers, PAf will induct around 170 Jf17, 40 j10b's
IAF will induct 100 MKI, 124 mmrca and around 120 LCA MK2
IAF's primary focus being offensive procured MKI's and MMRCA a/c's will see them being used primarily in offensive configuration leaving LCA tejas MK2 being the responsible for point defense.
My conclusion, IAF as an aggressive force is on the right track with its current acquisitions but unless it develops LCA as a potent platform against PAF, it might have to compensate offensive fighters from its line towards defensive duties reducing the sharpness.
PAF on the other hand has to find a/c's with larger range and performance to perform punitive strikes inside indian airspace. Also PAF needs to counter huge numbers of IAF's Aircrafts which are available for air superiority and strike roles (270 mki, 65 Mig 29 SMT's, 50 Mirage 2000IN, 124 MMRCA 's with IN -55 Mig 29K's)