Straight from the Pakistan Armed Force website

Submitted by Vishnu Gupta (India), Sep 22, 2006 at 03:25

The fact is that despite all the support, Pakistan never won a single war against India, a fact that its military rulers have never cared to admit to its citizen! But here's something interesting about its engagement alongside the Arabs in the wars against Israel!

http://www.scramble.nl/pk.htm

...The Six-Day War between Israel and a number of Arab countries in 1967.
During this conflict the PAF sent personnel to Egypt, Jordan and Syria to support the Arabs in their battle against the Israelis. PAF pilots managed to shoot down ten Israeli aircraft, including Mirages, Mystères and Vautours, without losses on their own side. The PAF pilots operated with Egyptian, Jordanese and Iraqi combat aircraft.

...Yom Kippur War, October 1973
During this war 16 PAF pilots volunteered to leave for the Middle East in order to support Egypt and Syria but by the time they arrived Egypt had already agreed on a cease-fire. Syria remained in a state of war against Israel so the PAF pilots became instructors there and formed the A-flight of 67 Squadron at Dumayr AB. Later on PAF pilot Flt. Lt. Sattar Alvi was honoured by the Syrian government....

The PAF Today

Things changed drastically in the new millennium. Not only was the Grifo 7 radar chosen for introduction in the F-7P (the radar being built bij the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra), the PAF also received over 60 F(T)-7PG aircraft to replace the ageing F-6 Farmers. Additional Mirages were yet again acquired from Lebanon and Libya.

For their help in the anti-terrorism activities the US promissed military aid to Pakistan in 2002 and declared Pakistan a Major Non-NATO ally in 2004. This eventually led to the US granting permission to order and deliver F-16s to the country again. Furthermore six (former RAAF) C-130 are being delivered to bolster the transport capacity. Though the country is now able to order new F-16 the order is still being discussed. The major earthquake in 2005 led to a delay in the order and the country is looking at a combined order for F-16s (new built F-16C/D Block 50/52, second hand F-16A/Bs and the Chinese J10.

Another type to be introduced is the FC-1/JF-17 Thunder. The prototypes of this hi-tec combat aircraft are currently operating in the test program. The aircraft was developed by a joint venture between CAC and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC). PAF hopes to acquire 150 aircraft of this type to replace a large number of the Mirages and older F-7s. The first aircraft of 16 currenly on order for Pakistan are scheduled for delivery end 2006/early 2007.

Four T-37Cs are forming the aerobatic team the Sherdils (Urdu for "lionhearted"). In the coming years the 20 T-37C aircraft will be replaced by the new K-8 Karakorum. The first K-8s have been operating at the Evaluation Flight at PAF Academy Risalpur since the mid-ninetees but additional aircraft (6 + 22) have recently been ordered. The Primary Flying Training Wing (PAF Academy) at Risalpur has received the first three Super Mushshaks by 10 May 2001. The main improvement on this modified version is a more powerful engine.

In 2006 the country placed an order for Swedish Saab 2000 aircraft equiped with the Erieye-system. This type will eventualy give the PAF the AWACS-capacity it was looking for.

The PAF saw the arrival of Mi-17 transport helicopters and appears to operate a number of Bell 412s as well (26 helicopters of this type were delivered to the various services in 2004/2005).

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".