Pakistan Military Developments

[ajtr]

Jacobabad airbase saved at cost of Balochistan​

By: Imran Mukhtar | Published: August 21, 2010
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ISLAMABAD – Deputy Chairman Senate Mir Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali on Friday made a stunning statement that an airbase was being saved from floodwaters at the cost of Balochistan and as a result more than 85 percent part of Jaffarabad has been inundated by flood.
The statement came after Secretary Health Khushnood Lashari on Wednesday informed the Senate Committee on Health that Shahbaz Airbase (Jacobabad) could not be used for relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Jacobabad as the airbase was under the control of US.
Jamali, however, did not elaborate his point and limited his remarks to this statement while talking to this scribe. He also severely criticised the PPP-led government for its mishandling of the disaster. "The people should compare how Z A Bhutto's PPP had handled the flood situation in 1976 and how the present PPP rulers are managing it, this would unfold many things," he added.
The Deputy Chairman Senate has also written a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry requesting him to take a suo motto notice to ascertain the responsibility of the devastation caused by breaching of Thori Band near Guddu Barrage at Indus River. The breach has caused destruction at a massive level in district Jaffarabad of Balochistan. The letter has raised many eyebrows that the people even sitting in the Parliament are also seeking justice from the Supreme Court.
In his letter (No. DCS/2010 dated August 18, 2010) addressed to the CJP, a copy of which is available with TheNation, Jamali blamed that 'the breach on the left bank of Indus is reportedly to save some influentials' standing crops and lands without an assessment of the destruction to residents of the district of Jaffarabad'.The letter says, "The breach inundated all the four tehsils of Jaffarabad district and the water rose to a height of 7 feet destroying every single building, household of the rural communities. About 85 percent of the inhabitants of Jaffarabad have, therefore, become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the districts of Nasirabad, Sibi and Quetta".
Jamali also said in the letter that out of the one million population of Jaffarabad, 0.85 million inhabitants had lost their houses, crops, livestock and livelihoods while 5-7 ft deep water had destroyed 90 percent of the agriculture land including crops and infrastructure as well as communications. He in his letter attributed this devastation to a callous and anti-human attitude of the authorities concerned.
The Deputy Chairman Senate while talking to TheNation on Friday also said that thousands of people had taken shelter at Saifullah Magsi and Kherther. "The people of Balochistan have been stranded in Bungel Derra, Ahmed Sial, Faizal-ul-Faqir, Goth Ghulam Mohammad, Goth Ali Ghulam Lashari and Goth Patogi due to the torrential rains and heavy floods and they have to be rescued within no time," he said. He also stressed that the Army should have to be moved to rescue these thousands of people.

 

[wild goose]

USS McInerney has been turned over to the Pakistani navy.

Shortly before the sun set Tuesday, the USS McInerney was no more.Within a few minutes, the PNS Alamgir floated in its place.

Dozens of feet above the water at Mayport Naval Station, a Pakistani sailor was already hard at work with a long brush and bucket of gray paint. He was covering up a large numeral "8"³ on the ship's bow, a U.S. designation, as the new crew made the ship its own.

"It tugs at your heartstrings," Cmdr. Paul Young, the final commanding officer of the McInereny said, minutes after turning over the vessel to Capt. Naveed Ashraf.

In recent months, Young led the ship on a successful final deployment and then spent months working with the Pakistani crew members, bringing them up to speed as they prepared to take over the ship.

"I'm proud of the ship and proud of the sailors," he said Tuesday.

The ceremony handing over the McInerney marked the beginning of the end for the Navy's fleet of frigates, which make up most of the force at Mayport.

It's the last "first" for the ship, which was on the cutting edge for most of its time in service, including serving as the test bed for the LAMPS MK III helicopter that helps find submarines and for the Navy's new unmanned aerial vehicle that hunts drug runners.

"She led the way in operation readiness," Rear Adm. Vic Guillory said about the McInerney, which he used to look at across the basin when he commanded the Mayport-based sister ship USS Underwood.

A few dozen of the ship's plank owners – members of the McInerney's original crew – who were on hand for the ceremony remember getting the ship to that readiness level.

Because the 1979-commissioned McInerney was the second Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate made, the plank owners were tasked with learning what worked and what didn't – sometimes dangerously so.

"We were off Nova Scotia looking for heavy seas. We found them," said Ken Hardison, a gas turbine system technician on the ship who came down from Virginia for the ceremony. "It was an experience."

The flexing that resulted led to the stiffer side, which became part of the entire class.

The plank owners have been talking about the decommissioning for months, several said, reigniting old friendships along the way.

"This has brought us a lot closer," said Rocky Morris, another member of the engineering department.

Seeing the new crew on the ship was a bit sad, he said.

"It's like we saw the baby being born, and now we're giving it away," Morris said. "We wish them the best with it. We hope they treat it well."

Its new owners plan to: After spending several months across the river in the Atlantic Marine facility, where some basic repairs will be made, the PNS Alamgir is expected to become a workhorse in the Pakistani fleet.

"You're not losing a ship; you're gaining a strengthened relationship," Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqqani said Tuesday. "We look forward to the transfer of more frigates."

The Pakistani navy is interested in seven of the U.S. frigates, although Congress has not yet approved any more of the transfers.

However, many of this class of ships being phased out will be sold or given to partner nations.

The dozen frigates remaining at Mayport are slated to be decommissioned by 2015, when the USS Samuel B. Roberts is retired.

Having the vessels as part of the Pakistani fleet, Haqqani said, is good for both countries.

"The strategic partnership between the U.S. and Pakistan will continue to deepen," he said. "The leadership of both countries understand the need for the relationship.

USS McInerney has been turned over to the Pakistani navy.

 

[SHASH2K2]

Pakistan Navy will build 4th F-22P Frigate in Karachi Shipyard

Though its not a Raptor but atleast its F22 .

:happy_8:

 

[SHASH2K2]

Pakistan Navy to build Submarines with China

Looks like Pakistanis got one more Paint Job. This time Its Submarine painting. They are getting a lot of Painting experiences these days.

 

[nitesh]

 

[Sridhar]

27 September 2010 Last updated at 05:36 GMT
Nato helicopters kill insurgents in Pakistan

Nato-led forces say they have killed more than 30 insurgents on Pakistani soil after a rare pursuit across the border from Afghanistan.
Two Apache helicopters from the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan reportedly took part in Saturday's operation.
It followed an attack by insurgents on an Afghan security outpost in Khost.
Isaf says no civilians were killed in the operation - but this has not been independently confirmed.

Pakistani media said the Isaf helicopters hit a group of fighters from the so-called "Haqqani network".
'Additional' casualties In a statement, Isaf said that the Afghan National Security Force in Khost province was attacked on Friday by "a significant number of insurgents".
"An air team in the area observed the enemy fire, and following International Security Assistance Force rules of engagement, crossed into the area of enemy fire."
The statement added that "the Isaf aircraft then engaged, killing more than 30 insurgents".
Isaf helicopters returned to the border area on Saturday and "were engaged by small-arms fire".
"The aircraft returned fire, resulting in several additional insurgents killed," the statement said.
An Isaf spokesman, Matt Summers, later confirmed that the helicopters had crossed into Pakistan. However, he did not reveal the location of the operation or which Isaf countries' forces were involved.
According to reports, though, the only coalition member Apache helicopters in Afghanistan is the US.
The US regularly uses drone aircraft for missile strikes in Pakistan's tribal belt, but manned air raids across the border are rare.
Isaf's 119,500-strong force was established by the UN in December 2001.
Isaf's stated mission is to promote security and development; it is also involved in training Afghan soldiers and police.

BBC News - Nato helicopters kill insurgents in Pakistan

 

[ajtr]

Pakistan Navy Chief Corruption Puts Navy at Risk​

by Meinhaj Hussain, [email protected]

The Pakistan Navy is in disrepair. It is facing acute shortage of helicopters, SAR aircraft and modern frigates. Seen in the backdrop of the massive Indian naval buildup which is sporting a numerical and qualitatively superior fleet many times the size and capability of the Pakistan Navy, composed of nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, modern frigates and destroyers, the Pakistan Navy fleet appears in poor light.

In the increasingly unstable world and open Indian ambitions of the Indian Ocean, the demand for naval competence and capability for the Pakistan Navy becomes a vital bottleneck for Pakistan's national security and foreign policy. The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Noman Basheer however, is busy filling his private coffers. With close ties and in partnership with Pakistani President Asif Zardari, a billionaire known infamously in Pakistan as Mr. 10%, CNS Noman Basheer is filling his pockets with the nation's meager treasures.


His recent purchase of four Hawker 850 XP aircraft is a case in point. With a large and extremely diverse fleet of VIP aircraft, did Pakistan really need another VIP aircraft purchase? The country's VIP fleet includes G-IV, Cessna Citation V, Cessna Citation Excel, Learjet 35, Learjet 45 XR, Raytheon Hawker 400, Falcon 20, Cessna Conquest II, Bell 412 helicopters (3) MI-17 helicopter Airbus A310-300 and LearJet.
Insiders know that, for this deal for the Hawker 850, envelopes exchanging hands.

Nearing retirement, CNS Basheer has accelerated his efforts and this deal was apparently not enough reward for missing the boat on the French Marlin submarine deal. Noman Basheer now wants to upgrade 35 year old Agosta 70 submarines. Whether it is ethical to send seamen out to sea in such ancient boats is questionable. Submarines are not trucks. If a truck breaks down, the occupants can simply dismount and walk away. A submarine on the other hand, is a death trap. Mechanical failure can more likely than not, lead to death in the ugliest way possible - slow and steady suffocation. This deal is in the background of supposedly not having enough money to buy German or Chinese submarines. Even the lowliest modern Chinese submarine would have been many times superior to sending seamen out in the Agosta 70s. Yet, CNS - Admiral - Noman Basheer has no problems as long as his Swiss bank accounts register an upswing. Somewhat disingenuously, this deal was concluded with the same French naval company - DCNS that was contracted for the Agosta-90B retirement fund project.

You can be sure that a long line of poor flood affected Pakistanis living below the poverty line will benefit from this deal - including President Zardari and his PPP nymphs.

Much to the chagrin of the Pakistani people, the amusement does not end here - the CNS is now calling to cancel the Gwader Port contract and "hand it over to the Chinese", whatever that vague phrase means. For those who know, it means strangulating yet another strategic project for Pakistan, as if the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline deal's indefinite postponement was not treason enough.

Rumors suggest that this corrupt PN officer is slated to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. This will not be the first PN officer to disgrace the Pakistani nation - he is following the illustrious career of CNS Mansoor who made his fortune in the infamous Agosta 90B deal with France.

CNS Admiral Noman Basheer would do well to remember the Iranian revolution and what happened to the Shah's men. In the event that insh'Allah Pakistan becomes an Islamic State, those who have looted the nation are insh'Allah going to receive compensation for their services, as long as there is enough rope to hang them with, and enough trees to hang them from.

 

[Patriot]

ASIAN DEFENCE: Eight Major Generals of Pakistan Army Promoted to Ranks of Lieutenant Generals

Eight Major Generals of the Pakistan Army have been promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant Generals here on Thursday. According to Military Sources, with the sheer consultation with Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Eight Major Generals that include Major General Raheel Shareef, Major General Zaheer, Major General Khalid Rabbani, Major General Sajjad Ghani, Major General Tariq Khan, Major General Muzammal, Major General Saleem Nawaz and Major General Agha Farooq have been promoted to Lieutenant Generals respectively.

Sources further say that Major General Raheel Shareef is currently the Commandant of the Military Academy Kakul while Major Sajjad Ghani is performing duties as Deputy Chief of the General Staff. Maj Gen Tariq Kahn is currently IG FC Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Maj Gen Muzamil Ahmed DG Military Training and Maj Gen Khalid Rabbani is working as GOC 17 division. They will assume their new responsibilities after their formal promotions.

 

[wild goose]

Pakistan Navy Inducts Z9EC helicopters, EW Jet Aircraft


The second batch of four Z9EC Anti Submarine helicopters, and the first Information and Electronic Warfare Jet aircraft were formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Aviation fleet on Thursday.

The induction ceremony was held at PN Aviation Base PNS Mehran. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral, Noman Bashir was the chief guest.

The Z9EC helicopters have been acquired from China under the contract with China National Aero technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC). The first batch was inducted last year which has been successfully taking part in Naval Air Operations. These helicopters operate from F-22P Frigates which now make an important part of PN Fleet. The helicopters are equipped with advanced sensors and torpedoes for undertaking designed role of Anti Submarine Warfare.

The acquisition of IW/EW jet aircraft would add a new dimension to Pakistan Navys intelligence gathering capabilities. The aircraft, equipped with modern and sophisticated equipment, is capable of covering larger areas in short time span, and would significantly enhance maritime domain awareness of own area of operations.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff said that while the Indian Ocean holds maximum stakes in terms of vital resources and strategically important sea lines of communication, It has also witnessed rise in maritime crimes, posing challenges to regional and extra regional players. Considering the threat in the shape of trans-national terrorist networks, security is no longer an isolated affair and navies are today resorting to the concept of collaborative and collective security. He said that Pakistan Navy is also playing an important role in these collaborative efforts towards peace and security. Induction of new platforms would provide PN with the means to meet these challenges more efficiently and effectively.

Admiral Bashir further said that Pakistan enjoys time-tested, multi dimensional and deep rooted relations with China. These relations have grown deeper and stronger in all spheres of defence and economic cooperation. F-22P and Z9EC projects are clear manifestations of these bonds of friendship.

Earlier in his welcome address, Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Tanveer Faiz gave an account of acquisition programme of these aircraft and their role in PN Aviation Fleet.

The ceremony concluded with an impressive fly past of newly acquired Z9EC helicopters. Among others, the ceremony was also attended by Mr. Liu Jian, Ambassador of China, Mr. Yang Ying, Vice President M/s CATIC, senior naval officers and aviators of Pakistan Navy.




http://idrw.org/?p=1199

 

[adilali99]

Can anyone post F -21 Pic`s and detail

 

[ajtr]

US planned to send spl forces into Pak post 9/11 & 2008: Bush

US planned to send spl forces into Pak post 9/11 & 2008: Bush​

ET

US came on the verge of marching its special forces into Pakistan to smash Taliban and Al Qaeda safe havens twice, post 9/11 and then again in mid-2008, but the country's rulers each time thwarted the attempt, former President George Bush has revealed. The former military dictator Pervez Musharraf had frustrated him from the move by conjuring up a spectre of a revolt in Pakistan and the possibility of militants taking over the reins of power and the country's nuclear arsenal, Bush said.

Breaking his silence on the tumultuous days after the dreadful 9/11 terror attacks on the US, Bush said that Musharraf and Pakistani Generals had always sought to misled him by saying that it was Indians who were influencing Americans against Pakistan. Pushing himself back into the public eye after a two year hibernation, the former President has come out with these startling new disclosures in his new book which he has titled "Decision Points", where he says that post 9/11 some in the Pakistan Intelligence Services maintained relationship with the Taliban and in fact provided them safe havens.

Bush recalls that as the Taliban and Al Qaeda were on the run from Afghan capital Kabul, he wanted to send special forces inside Pakistan to take head on these terrorists safe havens, but Musharraf warned him of revolt in the Pak Army in which the extremists could take control of the country including its nuclear arsenal. "He (Musharraf) told me that sending troops into combat in Pakistan would be viewed as a violation of Pakistani sovereignty. A revolt would likely ensue. His government would probably fall. The extremists could take over the country including its nuclear arsenal," Bush said adding that in that case he told him that Pak soldiers needed to take the lead and for several years the arrangements worked. In return, the US lifted sanctions and the Congress provided $3 billion in economic aid to Pakistan.

 

[Yusuf]

Ah the bluff of nukes. I hope when the time comes again, Obama will not falter and send troops right away.

 

[Ray]

The bogey of terrorists is Pakistan's strategy weapon.

No wonder they nurture them and treat them with kid gloves.

 

[plugwater]

US really bought that Musharraf bluff ? Idiots !!

 

[Sridhar]

Third F-22P frigate arrives from China

KARACHI: The third frigate of F-22P class named PNS Saif arrived from China on Monday and would be shortly inducted into the Pakistan Navy.

Onboard the PNS Saif, Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Tanveer Faiz said the ship's addition would greatly enhance the operational flexibility and reach of Pakistan Navy. The ships were likely to serve for a long time, he added. Earlier, PNS Saif Commanding Officer Captain Zubair Shafiq said the F-22P project envisaged the construction of four frigates. Three ships were constructed in China and the last ship was under construction at Karachi Shipyard, he added. staff report

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\11\09\story_9-11-2010_pg7_15

 

[captonjohn]

Pakistan military will remain India-centric, says Hamid Gul


A former ISI chief credited with creating the Afghan Taliban, has said his country's Army will not change its India-centric policy unless the Kashmir issue is resolved.

"The kind of terrorism which is going on in Pakistan is due to Kashmir issue," Hamid Gul, the former head of the Inter Services Intelligence who is believed to have created Kashmiri militants groups and finds frequent mention in the documents released recently by the whistle-blower site WikiLeaks, claimed in the CNN's Connect the World programme. "The second [reason] is because of the wrongful occupation of Afghanistan, by the allied forces, it's very wrongful," he argued.

"So I think that proud nation is being really ravaged which is very wrong. So, this is the root cause — unless you address the root cause, you are not going to find the solution, as far as Pakistan's orientation towards India is concerned that is a reality, and Indians themselves are making it a reality," General Gul claimed. "This is amazing that India continues to aim at Pakistan and considers it the enemy — Kashmir dispute is still going on; Kashmir movement is very much on the boil, and at this time it is expected that Pakistan should shift forces from the eastern border and transfer them to the western border — it is not possible, we don't have the resources," he said.

The former ISI chief told the CNN that the Soviet occupation was wrong, and so is the American occupation.

"And that Afghan nation will not accept that position, Afghan nation has never accepted for past 5000 years, they won't accept it now. So I don't regret it at all, because at that time the whole world was with us. "I think then America should be the first to regret that adventure at that time," he argued.

General Gul argued that there can be no peace in Afghanistan without Mullah Omar. "I think Mullah Omar has to be spoken to — that's very important — because without him no settlement in Afghanistan can take place. He symbolises the national resistance of Afghanistan against the occupation," he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article566903.ece

This Hamid Gul won't let happen any possibility for peace between India and Pakistan unless Pak bann or jail this crazy person. I think he has no work at this time hence just say some crap to grab attention.

 

[Sridhar]

PAF gets four of 18 trainer aircraft
BY VICTOR REYES
THE Air Force yesterday took delivery of four of the 18 brand new trainer aircraft procured from an Italian company under the Armed Forces' modernization program.

The SF-260 Marchetti planes were received by top officials of the defense and military establishment from Aerotech Industries, local partner of Alenia Aermacchi of Italy, at the Air Force facility in Clark Field in Pampanga.

Four more aircraft are expected next month, said Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena. He said they hope there will be full delivery not later than the second quarter of next year.

Rabena was joined by Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in receiving the four aircraft.

The P622-million contract was awarded to the Italian firm last year.

A number of T-41 aircraft donated last year by South Korea are also being used by the Air Force in the training of its pilots. But Rabena said the Air Force still lacks trainer planes.

At least 150 to 170 Air Force officers are waiting in line for actual training to fly an aircraft, according to Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol, Air Force spokesman.

"The arrival of the four SF-260 Marchetti planes will boost the training capability of the Air Force and ease the backlog of students required to undergo flying exercises," Okol added.

Air Force pilots tested the four new planes, flying them to Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, home of the Air Force Flying School.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/11052010/news7.html

 

[Sridhar]

Navy Inducts Z9EC helicopters, EW Jet Aircraft

Karachi: The second batch of four Z9EC Anti Submarine helicopters, and the first Information and Electronic Warfare Jet aircraft were formally inducted in Pakistan Navy Aviation fleet on Thursday.

The induction ceremony was held at PN Aviation Base PNS Mehran. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral, Noman Bashir was the chief guest.

The Z9EC helicopters have been acquired from China under the contract with China National Aero technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC). The first batch was inducted last year which has been successfully taking part in Naval Air Operations. These helicopters operate from F-22P Frigates which now make an important part of PN Fleet. The helicopters are equipped with advanced sensors and torpedoes for undertaking designed role of Anti Submarine Warfare.

The acquisition of IW/EW jet aircraft would add a new dimension to Pakistan Navy's intelligence gathering capabilities. The aircraft, equipped with modern and sophisticated equipment, is capable of covering larger areas in short time span, and would significantly enhance maritime domain awareness of own area of operations.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff said that while the Indian Ocean holds maximum stakes in terms of vital resources and strategically important sea lines of communication, It has also witnessed rise in maritime crimes, posing challenges to regional and extra regional players. Considering the threat in the shape of trans-national terrorist networks, security is no longer an isolated affair and navies are today resorting to the concept of 'collaborative and collective security'. He said that Pakistan Navy is also playing an important role in these collaborative efforts towards peace and security. Induction of new platforms would provide PN with the means to meet these challenges more efficiently and effectively.

Admiral Bashir further said that Pakistan enjoys time-tested, multi dimensional and deep rooted relations with China. These relations have grown deeper and stronger in all spheres of defence and economic cooperation. F-22P and Z9EC projects are clear manifestations of these bonds of friendship.

Earlier in his welcome address, Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Tanveer Faiz gave an account of acquisition programme of these aircraft and their role in PN Aviation Fleet.

The ceremony concluded with an impressive fly past of newly acquired Z9EC helicopters. Among others, the ceremony was also attended by Mr. Liu Jian, Ambassador of China, Mr. Yang Ying, Vice President M/s CATIC, senior naval officers and aviators of Pakistan Navy.

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=170782

 

[Parthy]

Pakistan are on their track on Military build-up - With the help of both US aids and Chinese help..

Soon, we may expect a conflict with them... :angry_1:

 

[SATISH]

US really bought that Musharraf bluff ? Idiots !!

Did they have a choice?