Pakistan Defense News

ISLAMABAD — Two senior Pakistani army officers were among those killed in a weekend IED attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) in the restive area along the Afghan border. The attack comes as peace talks with the TTP are being pushed by the government. Maj. Gen. Sanaullah Khan, Lt. Col. Tauseef Ahmed and Lance Naik Irfan Sattar were killed Sept. 15 when an IED targeted their convoy in the Upper Dir district near the Afghan border. Khan was commander of 17 Division, operating in Swat, formerly a stronghold of the TTP before they were ejected by the army in 2009. The general was returning from visiting troops in the region. Earlier IED attacks the same day on posts along Miranshah Road near Mir Ali in North Waziristan, a terrorist stronghold, killed a soldier and a member of the paramilitary Frontier Corps. An attack on members of the Khassadar — the government-allied tribal militia — in the early hours of the morning killed one and injured four. The attack that...

NEW DELHI — Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington Sept. 27, the Indian Defence Ministry’s highest body on Friday cleared the acquisition of six C-130J Hercules transport aircraft from the US. The aircraft are being purchased on a government-to-government basis at a cost of more than US $1 billion. The clearance to top the existing six C-130J aircraft with another six was made at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council. The Lockheed Martin-built aircraft have been effective in rugged terrain, including mountains, for transporting troops and cargo, an Indian Air Force official said. “We are very happy with the performance of the Hercules, and the aircraft does everything which IAF wants,” the official said. The Air Force has stood up a new squadron for flying the C-130J. Squadron 77 is nicknamed the “Veiled Vipers” with a motto “strike to kill.” Last month, the Air Force landed the C-130J at the Daulat Beg Oldie airstr...

ISLAMABAD — China and Pakistan last week began a three-week air exercise titled Shaheen 2 (Falcon 2) in Hetian Prefecture of China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The exercise, which lasts until Sept. 22, is the second in a series of such exercises, the first of which was held in Pakistan in March 2011. Shaheen 2 will be the first time an air force of another country will be participating in such an exercise in Chinese airspace. The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) first reported the exercise was to take place, citing the Chinese Defense Ministry. The Air Force here did not reveal any further details, such as participating aircraft, or if there had been any changes to the size, scope or format of the exercise since 2011. However, an APP report last week stated Chengdu F-7PG and Mirage aircraft had traveled to China to participate in Shaheen 2. It also stated: “The prime objective of the exercise is to excel in the air combat capability with focus on air...

ISLAMABAD: Nawaz Sharif, seen as the front-runner in Pakistan’s election race, said he would not allow militant groups to attack India from his country and would work to improve ties with New Delhi if elected.   “If I become the prime minister I will make sure that the Pakistani soil is not used for any such designs against India,” Nawaz Sharif told CNN-IBN in an interview. Despite recent strains, India and Pakistan’s relations have improved after nose-diving in 2008 when gunmen killed 166 people in Mumbai in a three-day rampage that India blamed on a Pakistani militant group. According to opinion polls, Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) is expected to win Saturday’s general election after capitalising on the failure of the outgoing Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to tackle everything from power cuts to a Taliban insurgency. Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who has formed his own party, has become one of Pakistan’s most popular politicians and could be a major...

KARACHI - Commissioning of fourth F-22P ship PNS ASLAT, indigenously built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Limited, was held on Wednesday.  Admiral Asif Sandila, Chief of the Naval Staff, graced the occasion as chief guest. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials/dignitaries from China and Pakistan including Ambassador of Peoples Republic of China, Vice President China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The commissioning of PNS ASLAT and its handing over to Pakistan Navy’s Fleet culminates the historic contract signed in 2005 for construction of three F-22P ships in China and transfer of technology for indigenous construction of fourth ship at Karachi Shipyard.  The timely and successful delivery of all ships including the indigenously built fourth ship, speaks volumes of cooperation and commitment of CSTC/HZ Shipyard, Karachi Shipyard and Naval Headquarters. PNS ASLAT is fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, which make it a highly potent platfo...

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan today conducted a successful launch of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Hatf IV Shaheen-1 Weapon System, said a handout issued by the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR). The missile incorporates series of improvements in range and technical parameters of the existing missile. It is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 900 Kms. Today’s launch, whose impact point was at sea, was witnessed by Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General (Retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Chairman NESCOM Mr. Muhammad Irfan Burney and other senior military officers, scientists and engineers. Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General (Retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai congratulated all scientists and engineers on the successful launch. He said that the improved version of Shaheen 1 has consolidated and strengthened Pakistan’s deterrence abilities manifold. He appreciated the efforts of all personnel...

RAWALPINDI: Commanders conference of Pakistan army would be held today (March 27) under the chairmanship of Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani. The conference would discuss professional matters, security measures and the role of army in the general elections. According to ISPR, it would be a routine conference. online Corps Commanders conference today: ISPR

AMMAN: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani met US Secretary of State John Kerry here on March 24. During the meeting both leaders discussed the reconciliation process in Afghanistan and security issues concerning the South Asia Region. COAS Kayani meets US Secretary of State Jon Kerry

* PN signs contract with KS&EW for 15,000-tonne capacity fleet tanker KARACHI: Two pusher tugs constructed at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works were formally handed over to Pakistan Navy on Tuesday in a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard. Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Muhammad Shafiq was the chief guest on the occasion. Addition of these pusher tugs in Pakistan Navy fleet is an important milestone achieved towards self-reliance. Pakistan Navy has also signed a contract with KS&EW for construction of a 15,000-tonne capacity fleet tanker. Addressing the ceremony, the chief guest said that while Pakistan’s geographical location and geostrategic environment essentially necessitates building of a strong and balanced Navy to defend our maritime interests; realisation of our force goals through foreign acquisitions only is becoming increasingly difficult. The changing geo-political dynamics also suggest that the access to the foreign defence technologies, particularl...

ISLAMABAD — Faced with mounting casualties among security forces from roadside bomb attacks in its Tribal Areas, Pakistan is set to reveal an indigenous mine-resistant vehicle. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s state-owned vehicle manufacturer, Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), has confirmed that its Burraq mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle is nearing the end of its prototype phase and will be unveiled in “three to four months.” The announcement comes after years of development and failed efforts to acquire such a vehicle from other sources. The need for an MRAP is great, and the military has acknowledged the considerable menace improvised explosive devices (IEDs) pose to security forces, particularly in the Tribal Areas along the Afghan-Pakistan border in fighting with the Taliban. In what was perhaps the largest loss of life from an IED attack to date, 14 soldiers were killed and 25 wounded during a Jan. 13 attack on a Pakistani Army convoy in Waziristan. Pakistan has ...

Pakistan and Turkey have concluded air exercises aimed at excelling in the air combat capability, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said. The International Air Exercise Indus Viper-II conducted between PAF and Turkish Air Force (TuAF) concluded at an operational air base of Pakistan, the PAF spokesman said Sunday. The Turkish Air Force contingent comprising five F-16s C&D, combat pilots and ground technical crew, participated in the air exercises conducted from March 4 to 16, reported Xinhua. ”Pakistan Air Force emphasizes on the combat training of its air and ground crew and regularly undertakes air exercises with allied air forces,” the spokesman said in a statement. Air Exercise Indus Viper II provided an opportunity to combat crew of both the air forces to acquaint themselves with applied tactics of air power in near real scenario, he said. He added the PAF has been participating in a number of international air exercises with some of the best air forces of the world, including Un...

KARACHI — Pakistan on Friday concluded a four-day multinational exercise and seminar aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region. The Aman-13 /Peace-13 exercise brought together ships from 13 countries — including the U.S. and China — and observers from 20 others. It was the fourth in the biannual series, which was designed to provide a platform for information sharing, develop tactics against asymmetrical and traditional threats and boost interoperability between all navies working in the region. Though there are other threats to regional peace and stability, the main ones in the Indian Ocean region remain terrorism and piracy. Some of the warships participating in the exercise regularly engage in missions to combat these threats. However, during the seminar, some questioned whether there was sufficient resolve to stamp out terrorism, given that the vast resources arrayed against the Somali pirates operating in the region have not been completely successful. Some ...

ISLAMABAD — The United States and China began naval drills in the Arabian Sea with Pakistan and other countries on Thursday, the Pakistani navy said, in a show of strength against terrorism and piracy. The AMAN-13 exercise involves ships from 13 countries and observers from 20 others and comes two weeks after China took control of a strategic Pakistani Arabian Sea port from Singapore’s PSA International. The five-day exercise, which began earlier this week with meetings and maneuvers in port, will end on Friday and is aimed at “information sharing, mutual understanding and identifying areas of common interest,” the navy said in a statement. The maneuvers — the fourth since 2007 — will also help develop and practice response tactics, techniques and procedures as well as improving cooperation between navies, the statement said. One of the main objectives is to “display united resolve against terrorism and crimes in maritime domain,” it said. The shipping lanes of the Indian Oce...

Aman exercise commences today Staff Report KARACHI: The multinational exercise Aman- 13 will be conducted from March 4 to 8, in which navy forces of 34 countries including Pakistan Navy (PN) are participating. This was stated by Commander Pakistan Fleet, Rear Admiral Khan Hasham Bin Siddique, at a media briefing here on Sunday. He pointed out that the Aman series of multinational exercises were started in 2007 with a view to promote regional cooperation and stability, greater interoperability and to display a united resolve against terrorism and crimes in maritime domain including Piracy. The Aman-13 is the fourth such exercise planned from March 4 to 8 at Karachi. Admiral Hasham pointed out that the concept of exercise was designed to: Provide common forum for information sharing, mutual understanding and identifying areas of common interest. The countries participating with the Naval assets are – Australia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia (Special Operation Force only) Italy...

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s recent test of a short-range ballistic missile shows the military’s progress toward developing a response to India’s anti-ballistic missile (ABM) program, officials said. The Feb. 15 firing of its Hatf-II/Vengeance-II Abdali missile was the latest test of its short-range ballistic missile arsenal, which can be armed with tactical nuclear warheads. A press release by the military’s Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated the test-firing was “part of the process of validation of land-based ballistic missile systems.” The 180-kilometer-range missile can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and has “varied maneuverability options” providing an “an operational level capability,” the statement said. Mansoor Ahmed from Quaid-e-Azam University’s Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, who specializes in Pakistan’s national deterrent and delivery program, highlights this latter aspect as the reason for the test in response to arch-rival India’s ABM effor...

TEHRAN: The Iranian Navy is establishing a new naval base on its coast of the Gulf of Oman. The location is Pasabandar, near Iran's border with Pakistan, reported Fars news agency. The move came as Pakistan prepared to sign an agreement with a Chinese firm to hand over the control of Gwadar Port. "The naval base which is under-construction is located in our country's far east coasts in the Gwatr Gulf along the borders with Pakistan," Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Sunday. He said that the Navy has intensified its efforts to develop the Makran coasts, which stretches from Iran's port city of Bandar Abbas to Makran (also known as Pasabandar). (Monitoring Desk) Iran to establish naval base near Gwadar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has made a high-level contact with India for the return of its soldier, Sepoy Ikhlaq, resident of Saydan who had mistakenly crossed the LoC in Khoi Rata sector, Geo News reported Friday. Military sources said that Pakistani soldier had mistakenly crossing the LoC entering into the Indian held area last night, adding that Pakistan has demanded that the Soldier or his body be returned - as the case may be. Meanwhile the Indian media reports that the sepoy has been killed, and his body will be returned today. Pakistan demands return of Sepoy Ikhlaq, from India

ISLAMABAD — The Feb. 11 test of the Hatf-IX (Vengeance-IX)/Nasr is evidence that Pakistan is leaning more heavily on its nuclear deterrent in the face of an increasing conventional and non-conventional imbalance relative to arch-rival India, said Mansoor Ahmed from Quaid-e-Azam University’s Department of Defence and Strategic Studies. Ahmed specializes in Pakistan’s national deterrent and delivery programs. According to a Feb. 11 press release by the military’s Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) media arm, “successive launches of two missiles” were carried out from a “multi-tube launcher” able to fire a four-missile salvo. It described the 60-kilometer-range Nasr as a “quick response system” that “ensures deterrence against threats in view of evolving scenarios.” It went on to state Nasr had been “specially designed to defeat all known anti-tactical missile defense systems”. Ahmed said there are several important aspects in the latest test. The reference to the Nasr being abl...

Pakistan today conducted a successful test fire of Short Range Surface to Surface Missile Hatf IX (NASR), said ISPR. The test fire was conducted with successive launches of two missiles from a state of the art multi tube launcher. NASR, with a range of 60 km, and inflight maneuver capability can carry nuclear warheads of appropriate yield, with high accuracy. Additionally NASR has been specially designed to defeat all known Anti Tactical Missile Defence Systems. The missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads for delivery over short ranges is said to possess ‘shoot and scoot’ attributes, which refer to the military tactic of firing at a target with accuracy and immediately relocating to another position to avoid counter-fire from enemy positions. The successful test has also been appreciated by the President and Prime Minister who have congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding success. Pakistan test fires short range missile Hatf IX (NASR)

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan is integrating its nuclear-capable Hatf VII/Vengeance VII Ra’ad air launched cruise missile onto its JF-17 Thunder aircraft, but analysts are unsure if this signifies a nuclear deterrence role for the aircraft. Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood at the JF-17 Project Management Office said integration work was ongoing with Chinese and Pakistani weapons, and that “most weapons have been integrated”. “Ra’ad and the H-4 [glide bomb] will be for the Block I and Block II” aircraft currently in or about to enter service, not just the forthcoming Block III variant, he said. Former Air Force pilot and analyst Kaiser Tufail said, “It makes good sense to get on with the wiring as well as flight trials of these weapons on the JF-17 at this stage. For one thing, all subsequent production aircraft would have the mod integrated from the outset and there will be no need for retrofits that also result in long down times at the flight lines. Secondly, the whole process is lengthy and...

NEW DELHI — Relations between India and Pakistan are on the downswing again and the Indian Army chief says he has instructed commanders to respond aggressively to any Pakistani provocation. Addressing a news conference here Jan. 14, Gen. Bikram Singh said a Jan. 8 attack in which one Indian soldier was beheaded was premeditated. “Such an operation requires planning, detailed reconnaissance,” said Singh. “We expect our commanders to be aggressive. The orders are very clear — when provoked, I expect my unit commanders should fire back,” Singh warned. For the past week there has been firing along the border with Pakistan, called the Line of Control (LOC). The beheading of the soldier evoked outrage here among the media and political circles. Despite the firing, Singh said, the cease-fire in place since November 2003 has been holding except for “some aberrations.” The Army commanders of both countries, meanwhile, are trying to defuse the tension through talks on a hotline, said sou...