“The PAF’s response has strengthened Pakistan’s national security and our enduring commitment for stability and peace. But I have no doubt that the real cerebrum behind the aim and design was the Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmad Babar,” he said.

“He asked us to do three things: re-establish deterrence, neutralise key threats, retain control of air,” Aurangzeb recalled.

“During the befitting response we generated in our first episode, we attired the IAF’s pride, the Rafales, resulting in this entire fleet coming to a standstill at ground position. They did not fly after that, at least not close to their western border.”

“This reduced their liberty of action and curtailed their options,” he pointed out.

“They intiated unmanned aircraft operations targeting Pakistan’s civilian population and infrastructure. All these spots are drones and UAVs coming into our territory being picked up by radar even before entering. Anti-drone systems of PAF, Navy and Army rendered enemy drone attacks ineffective through jamming and spoofing and rendering systems unserviceable.”

All drones were detected and rendered useless through indigenous jamming systems, Aurangzeb added.

Opinion

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