ISLAMABAD (March 18 2009): The outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed has said that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has achieved such a deterrence level that no one can cast an evil eye on the motherland. At a book launching ceremony "A new dawn of PAF" relating to the PAF development during a decade till 2008 on Tuesday, he told media that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has evolved into a nuclear force with the aim to giving it the status of a real deterrent force.
Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed said that the country had achieved nuclear power back in 1998 with the aim that the defence of the country is made impregnable and over the years PAF has been able to successfully achieve the target.
"We fought two wars with India in 1965 and 1971 and prevented three imminent wars in 1998, 2002 and in recent days in the aftermath of Mumbai attacks." India had threatened Pakistan of undertaking surgical strikes but seeing the level of preparedness and alertness of PAF the looming dangers from the adversary were averted effectively. This clearly showed that the attainment of nuclear power has helped in achieving peace in the region. "It helped deter any misadventure in the region."
Responding to a query, he said 95 percent of PAF personnel and officers are not out to earn livelihood but they joined PAF with the passion to defend the motherland through obtaining mastery over the machine and ammo.
Talking about the last ten years, the Air Chief said the PAF today is much more effective and potent force than what it was in 1998. The PAF shall continue to excel further with the passage of time.
Earlier, making remarks at the book launching, the Air Chief termed all the sanctions imposed by the west from time to time in the past as blessing in disguise saying "this helped us a lot to achieve indigenization of technology. It has brought us at the higher pedestal."
"We are now a nuclear state and it is all due to the sanctions. The co-production with China of a modern fighter aircraft like JF-17 Thunder is also an outcome of the sanctions. We achieved all that with minimal spending while living within our limited financial resources, "he stated.
Sharing his views on the book, he said the author Alan Warne (Editor of UK based Air Forces Monthly) has written the book on his own as the PAF had facilitated the writer to carry out his work with an unbiased approach independently.
He appreciated the efforts of the writer for creating a masterpiece within a short span of about 15 months. He said the book covers past, present and future of the PAF, presenting salute to heroes of the force besides shedding light on future plans.
He also appreciated the services of former Director Public Relations (Air) Air Commodore Sarfraz Ahmed Khan for facilitating the author for accomplishment of his task. He also mentioned the DPR (Air) Air Commodore Humayun and his able team in the Directorate.
Earlier, the author of the book said that the PAF during the last 40 years had been undergoing sanctions and despite all that what it has achieved is highly appreciable. PAF is the only air force of the world which has been co-building modern fighter aircraft like JF-17 Thunder, he said.
Air Chief-designate Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman (Deputy Chief of Air Staff operations), who will take over the PAFs command on Wednesday was also present with the Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed on the accession.
Air Marshal Rao is architect of an effective strategy to deal with the Indian threat of carrying out surgical strikes against Pakistan. Due to this strategy the adversary had to shelve its nefarious plan of surgical operations.
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed paid a farewell call on President Asif Ali Zardari here Tuesday. President Zardari appreciated the services rendered by him for Pakistan Air Force and wished him success in his future. The outgoing Air Chief thanked the president.
i , salute you with the bottom of my heart!
