December 23, 2001	Sunday	Shawwal 7, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir said on Saturday that the defence forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to give a matching response in case of any misadventure from across the border.

“There is nothing to be worried about; Pakistan’s armed forces are fully prepared,” he said while talking to mediamen after inaugurating a seminar on “Role of air power in the 21st century” at the Institute of Strategic Studies.

“ There is some military build-up and preparations across the eastern border and we are fully aware of the situation”, he said adding that the commanders had been undertaking series of brain- storming sessions to streamline strategies to effectively counter in case of misadventure from across the border.

Replying to a question whether India would carry out airstrikes on Kashmir, the air chief referred to the recent statements by Indian Prime Minister Vajapyee and his cabinet colleagues that they had all the options wide open. So, he said:” We are vigilant and keeping vigil on all the latest happenings.

“We are fully prepared and can take any challenge,” he said when his attention was drawn to the recent build-up by India followiing fresh purchases of military hardware.

He said India had 800 aircraft while Pakistan had 350 combat- ready planes,but”our efficient force can overwhelm them.”

The PAF chief said that, in addition to this, 10 Chinese-made F7-PG aircraft would be reaching Pakistan next week and a similar number of planes had already arrived in Pakistan. The remaining 20 aircraft, out of 40, according to a deal, would arrive in Pakistan in a couple of months.

The first prototype of Super-7 aircraft (a Pak-China joint venture being executed in Pakistan Aeronautical Complex)) would roll out by June 2003, while its regular production was expected to start in 2004-05, the PAF chief added.

“ We are well aware that India had been preparing since the Kargil war and have inducted some new hardware and are in process of inducting some other. Seeing the situation, we have been making allout efforts to keep the minimum level of deterrence in the nuclear and conventional sectors”, he said

Referring to Pakistan-China relations, with special regard to defence, he said:” We already have a number of pacts of strategic nature with our friendly countries which have always been standing with us through thick and thin”.—APP