Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said the world was “stunned” by the superb execution of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) operations against India during May this year.
Addressing a graduation ceremony at PAF Academy in Risalpur, he explained that, for the first time, the PAF conducted a full-spectrum, multi-domain operation using space assets, electronic warfare, killer drones, and loitering munitions.
He added that Pakistan faced a numerically superior adversary but, through unity and strategic planning, the PAF successfully defended the country, downing multiple advanced Indian aircraft including Rafales, Su-30MKIs, and Mirage 2000s.
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The air chief highlighted that operations Marka-e-Haq and Bunyan-um-Marsoos demonstrated a unified national approach and the blessings of Allah, ensuring decisive results while maintaining a balanced and calibrated strategy.
He further stated that on May 10, Pakistan, alongside the Army, retaliated against Indian pre-emptive strikes, targeting enemy bases, neutralizing S-400 air defence systems, and command centres, asserting control over contested areas effectively.
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The May 2025 clashes, triggered by a terrorist attack in IIOJK’s Pahalgam area, ended after 87 hours with a US-brokered ceasefire. Pakistan denied involvement in the attack, offering to join a neutral investigation into the incident.