MAIN PAF OPERATING BASE, May 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will play a lead role in the defence of the motherland in case war was thrust on Pakistan.

Addressing the officers and men at PAF Base Minhas, Gen Musharraf said that military history was full of examples where numerically inferior forces defeated the larger numbers, and in our own history the PAF had displayed outstanding performances against the IAF, a much bigger air force.

“The PAF is small but a potent and hard-hitting air force with the ability to strike and surprise the enemy in such a manner that it will repent the decision to opt for war,” he said.

“Seeing the glimmer in the eyes of all pilots and airmen I met, I am fully confident that, Inshallah, the PAF will give a befitting response to any adventurism by India and create yet another chapter full of glory and valour in the history.

“I am extremely proud and motivated after seeing the highest state of preparedness and morale displayed by the PAF,” the president said.

He commended the efforts of PAF personnel for attaining the required deterrence level through indigenization despite heavy odds. The PAF has achieved highest degree of operational readiness under the leadership of Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir in the shortest possible time, he said.

Referring to the Jammu incident, he said the enemy had been trying to create a dangerous situation in the region by posing such scenes.

“Defence forces of the country are fully prepared and ready to respond in a befitting manner in case of any aggression from across the borders. And if the war is thrust on us it will be fought in the enemy’s territory,” he said.

The people of Pakistan have always had faith in the ability of the armed forces to inflict unbearable damage to the enemy.

The armed forces and the people of Pakistan will shed last drop of their blood in defence of their motherland and the enemy will be taught a lesson that will never be forgotten by it, he said.

He said the spirit to sacrifice for the defence of the motherland “has always made the difference” in the past conflicts and the same will be demonstrated in the future as well.

Earlier, on arrival, President and Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf was received by the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, Air officer Commanding Northern Air Command Air Vice Marshal Saleem Nawaz and Base Commander Air Commodore Hameed Qadri.

He was briefed on the operational preparedness of PAF and wartime role of the base. He also inspected the fleet of frontline fighter aircraft of the PAF and witnessed the ongoing operational activities to meet any threat.

During his visit, President Gen Pervez Musharraf also met the fighter pilots and technicians of the different squadrons deployed on the base.

Earlier, in his observations in the Visitors’ Book, the President said: “It is my proud privilege to have visited PAF Base Minhas. Seeing the glimmer in the eyes of all pilots and airmen I met, I am fully confident that, Inshallah, the PAF will give a befitting response to any adventurism by India. May God be with you always and protect you from harm’s way. I am proud of all of you.” —APP