I thought they taught Mandarin in Pakistani schools?
They do, but this Pakistani Pilot must have failed in Mandarin, but got passed anyway, since he showed such great knowledge in Talibani Sharia laws and had an "uncle"
in the military (the same "uncle" who got him a Pilot's job) ...
But jokes apart, JF-17 is certainly not a new design, nor a state of the art platform. It is based upon Mig-21 airframe with modifications from Soviet project-33 and Chinese Super-J-7 projects. The "upgrades" have been in avionics, Radar and digital FBW, all of them of Chinese origin, albeit with some 1980s inputs from France, USA and Israel (for Super J-7) - however, China never really finished the Super-7 project as their "advisors" in the west had bailed on them in 1989.
So, what the JF-176 has is a set of half-improved systems over the base Mig-21. The engine also is not Russian made, but Russian design RD-33, license built in China. Since we all know that till 2011, the Chinese were struggling with machining and metallurgy in engine development, the JF-17 engines might not be the best examples of the RD-33 engines.
The safety features, ejection seat, parachute etc are all examples of cost-cutting in PAF. Remember that despite all their bravado and big talks, the Pakistani government is running low on cash and can ill afford to pay the top dollars for the top-line equipment. So, they choose the "next best" - but as we know, the "next best" does not mean it is safe enough. So, the PAF Pilots pay the price.
As for those who think that a PAF pilot is not worthy of our condolences, I would like to say that's what sets us apart - just as you do not bark or bite back at a dog, there is no reason to behave in the same inhuman way towards our Pakistani neighbors, just because they do the same. They are bad, does not mean we cannot be better. Actually, I think that is EXACTLY why we should be better. We should make it a point to show them that their way is wrong, their thought-processes are wrong and their philosophy is inherently bad. What better way to show our enemies that we are superior than to give their dead respect that they fail to give us, dead or alive?
So, RIP brave Pakistani Pilot, who may have bombed my house some day - RIP, but you are still my enemy.