Islam & Pakistan! Technology & Me!
PAF jets secure our air space as US spy jet retreats
The Pakistani JF-17 Thunder flying proudly in Pakistani air space!
By Syed Ammar F.
Sunday, 14th September – 2008
A sigh of relief for the Pakistani nation at last! The Pakistan air force decided to send in its jets to fly over North Waziristan to keep a check on Pakistan’s air space violations by the United States, which is being seen as a very strong signal internationally.
A US spy plane had entered Pakistani air space but disappeared soon after the emergence of PAF fighter jets.
Locals of FATA have expressed a sigh of relief and satisfaction over the PAF flights.
The United States had publicly announced in recent days that it will carry out attacks in Pakistani territory and will only inform the Pakistani government. The United States categorically said that it will not ask for Pakistan’s permission, which invited a strong statement from the Chief of Pakistani armed forces, General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani.
PAF jets in flights over North Waziristan
MIRAMSHAH, Sept 13: The Pakistan Air Force started reconnaissance flights in areas on the border with Afghanistan on Saturday in the wake of increased airspace violations by US drones and incursions by coalition forces into tribal areas.
A US spy plane was seen in the skies above North Waziristan earlier during the day, but it disappeared as soon as Pakistani fighters appeared. The jets, which were seen for the first time after a series of US attacks in the tribal belt, reconnoitred the region for an hour.
Locals welcomed the PAF move as reassuring. “The presence of Pakistani fighter planes gave a sense of security to the people,” one man said.
Twelve people were killed and 14 others injured when a US drone hit the building of a non-functional school in Toolkhel area of North Waziristan on Friday.
Last week, US-led forces had carried out a ground assault in Angoor Adda, near the Afghan border, killing over 50 people. Tribesmen welcomed the “timely reaction” by Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, to the US action.
A group of tribal elders said at a press conference at the Miramshah Press Club on Saturday that “we shall fight shoulder to shoulder with the Army and shall never hesitate to sacrifice our lives”.
“If missile attacks and bombing of our houses and markets do not stop, a tribal lashkar will launch a counter-attack inside Afghanistan.
“We will not allow the aggressors to kill our children and women and destroy our homes. We will fight back and defend our frontiers,” they added.
Also in the news was public criticism by a US lawmaker by a congressman, accusing the US government of trying to spill over the war to another nation which had not attacked the USA.
US warned against sending troops to Pakistan: Congressman terms Bush’s decision an election issue
WASHINGTON, Sept 13: The Bush administration risks expanding the failed war in Afghanistan into Pakistan, says a US lawmaker while commenting on the US decision to conduct raids into Pakistani territory.
“The president is once again violating international law by invading yet another nation which has not attacked the United States,” said Congressman Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat.
“Pakistan is a nuclear flash point on the Asian subcontinent … the United States under George Bush is playing with fire,” he warned.
The people of Pakistan welcome this move by our armed forces and we promise to stand by them in any eventuality!
Long Live Pakistan!
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While it obviously is good to hear of such news, one must also keep in mind that our economy is in shabmbles right now – even by our own low standards – and that we simply cannot sustain a conflict at the moment. Sure, we need to make sure our sovereignity is not compromised at any cost, but any conflict – god forbid – would be devastating to the country seeing that we get most of our military and civilian aid from USA