PAF shot down multiple advanced Indian jets, including Rafales, Su-30MKIs, Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu. Photo: YouTube
ISLAMABAD:
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said on Tuesday that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) stunned the world with its decisive and coordinated response during the May 2025 conflict with India.
Addressing the passing-out parade at the PAF Academy in Risalpur, the air chief described PAF operations during Marka-e-Haq and Bunyanum Marsoos as a first-of-its-kind full-spectrum, multi-domain engagement.
He said Marka-e-Haq demonstrated Pakistan’s emergence as a regional stabiliser. “We live in challenging times, and our adversaries have always sought to undermine our sovereignty. Yet our armed forces defeated the enemy despite its far greater numerical strength,” he stated.
“The world had never before seen such a coordinated and daring use of air power. This engagement has set a new benchmark for modern aerial warfare, and in 2025, the PAF once again demonstrated its overwhelming superiority,” he added.
The air chief revealed that, for the first time in history, the PAF employed a comprehensive operational approach, integrating space, cyber, and electronic warfare with long-range vectors, unmanned aerial systems, killer drones, and loitering munitions.
On May 6-7, the PAF shot down multiple advanced Indian jets, including Rafales, Su-30MKIs, Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s, and unmanned aerial vehicles, establishing what ACM Sidhu described as one of the most intense beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements of modern times.
He noted that on May 10, in response to an Indian pre-emption, Pakistan executed deep strikes against enemy bases and ground assets across northern and southern sectors, neutralising S-400 air defence systems and key command-and-control centres.
Highlighting the broader strategic context, ACM Sidhu said the success was the product of unified national efforts, Allah’s blessings, aggressive decision-making, and the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
“The nation and its armed forces provided a remarkable example of unity, decisiveness, and professionalism, defeating an enemy that enjoyed numerical superiority,” he said. “Our operations were calibrated and balanced, with a single aim: to ensure peace with honour.”
“Pakistan is a peaceful country and seeks friendly relations with all nations,” he said. However, he warned that if Pakistan’s sovereignty is challenged again, the enemy will find the PAF far stronger and better prepared than before.
“As a responsible nuclear power, Pakistan’s global and regional relations have grown stronger than ever, while the public’s unwavering trust in the armed forces is the result of decades of sincere service and sacrifice,” he added.
The air chief emphasised that the PAF’s performance in 2025 reflected years of modernisation, restructuring, and operational innovation. He highlighted Pakistan’s air power, commitment to national defence, and professional expertise in full measure.
on the occasion, ACM Sidhu mentioned that the presence of Saudi cadets at the PAF Academy reflects the strong friendship and strategic cooperation between the armed forces of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
While, congratulating the graduating cadets, he said they have been entrusted with the sacred duty of defending the motherland’s air borders, and the hopes of the entire nation rest on their shoulders.
The ceremony featured cadets from various courses, including GD(P), Engineering, Air Defence, Navigation, Admin, Special Duties, and Logistics, alongside cadets from the Royal Saudi Air Force. The event included a flypast by PAF fighter jets and the Sherdil Aerobatics Team, showcasing the skill and professionalism of the air force.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
