Pakdef E-Reporter Vol I No. 1 October-November 2006

Editorial: Syed Ahmed [email protected] Submit Contributions: [email protected] Usman Shabbir [email protected] H Khan [email protected] Feedback: [email protected]

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ______3 Bunker News ______6 The First Cyber War – Part 1 ______10 Gwadar: Competition From All Sides______12 Multan Conference Jan. 1972______14 The Birth of Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Program.______14 End of the line for the once proud Hangor class ______19 India’s Claim on Kashmir Has No Justification ______25 Rise of the Falcon: Future of PAF ______35

INTRODUCTION

elcome to PakDef E-Reporter, an illuminating new publication put out by Pakistan Military Consortium (PMC) and www.pakdef.info. PMC is devoted towards W disseminating accurate information on Pakistan’s army, air force, navy and strategic command. We hope you will find here facts concerning Pakistan not commonly available elsewhere. However, first a disclaimer: despite the focus on Pakistani military and geo-strategic issues, neither this publication, nor PMC, nor www.pakdef.info have anything to do with The Government of Pakistan, its military establishment or any civil agency.

PakDef E-Reporter is purely a private initiative by individuals from diverse backgrounds, who have an interest in military and geo-strategic issues relating to Pakistan. Our contributors hail from various disciplines, such as engineering, medicine, information technology, accountancy, jurisprudence and economics, to name a few. Thus readers of PakDef E-Reporter will be exposed to the perspective of private Pakistani citizens and expatriates, without any governmental spin.

Contributors to PakDef E-Reporter have been discussing issues of interest at the www.pakdef.info forum since 1998, and have developed a wealth of information that we would like to share. Although all of this information is available at www.pakdef.info, which carries perhaps the most detailed information about Pakistan’s military available at any public website, we felt that publishing PakDef E-Reporter was necessary in order to facilitate a more informed debate about strategic issues relating to Pakistan.

Disseminating precise information on Pakistan became a natural outgrowth of forum discussions as forum members discovered that there was little information available on Pakistan, and what little was available was generally inaccurate and without context. Our contributors realized that the mainstream American media, as well as publications from respected policy analysts tended to mischaracterize Pakistan by exaggerating its deficiencies, while downplaying its endeavors and achievements in pursuit of a peaceful world.

For example, concerning nuclear proliferation, everyone knows and is reminded ad nauseam by the media, about Dr. A. Q. Khan’s nuclear sales network, however very few ever hear about Pakistan’s efforts to prevent nuclearization of South Asia and what exact role Dr. A. Q. Khan played in Pakistan’s nuclear program. These efforts have unambiguously sought to prevent nuclear proliferation, and have included the following proposals:

• In 1974 Pakistan offered to India proposals for declaring South Asia a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone. • In 1978 Pakistan proposed a joint India-Pakistan declaration renouncing the acquisition and manufacture of nuclear weapons. • In 1979 Pakistan proposed mutual inspection of each other’s nuclear facilities to India. Pakistan also offered simultaneous adherence with India to the NPT, as well as

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simultaneous acceptance of full-scope IAEA safeguards on both countries’ nuclear facilities. • In 1987 Pakistan offered to sign a bilateral or regional nuclear test ban treaty with India. • In 1991 Pakistan proposed the commencement of multilateral conference on nuclear proliferation in South Asia. • In 1993 Pakistan proposed creating a missile free zone in South Asia • In 1998 after India provoked Pakistan by conducting five additional nuclear tests close to its borders, Pakistan offered to refrain from conducting retaliatory tests if the United States would guarantee Pakistan’s security vis-à-vis India, but the U.S. declined. • Pakistan is prepared to give up its nuclear weapons capability anytime India is prepared to do the same.

India of course did not respond to these non-proliferation initiatives, as it had no intention of contributing towards nuclear non-proliferation in South Asia.

However the international community that was supposedly against nuclear proliferation also did nothing to support these overtures. Instead Pakistan, which had authored these initiatives, was sanctioned over and over for developing a defensive capability, without a care for its predicament.

Nothing demonstrates better than these proposals Pakistan’s reluctance to assume the role of a nuclear state, yet these facts and context are never revealed in any media report, research papers or policy analyses.

Therefore, PakDef E-Reporter hopes to fill the gaps necessary for an honest evaluation of Pakistan, by bringing you factually and contextually accurate material focused on Pakistan’s military and military history, as well as our perspective on current geo-strategic issues and an assessment of future developments.

For example, let’s briefly consider Pakistan’s geo-strategic situation. The reality of Pakistan’s geo-strategic environment is that Pakistan is snared in an existential struggle.

Pakistan’s two immediate neighbors, Afghanistan and India, have never really accepted the emergence of a sovereign Pakistan. For Afghanistan the formalization of the Durand Line as the border between itself and Pakistan was unacceptable, and up until the Soviet invasion Afghanistan provided sanctuary to anyone who displayed a willingness to destabilize or attack Pakistan – a role it appears to be reverting to since the U.S. invasion.

Pakistan’s critical assistance to the Afghans in liberating themselves from Soviet occupation, and paying a back-breaking price for it in terms of hosting millions of Afghan refugees for quarter of a century has done nothing to pacify unwarranted Afghan hostility towards Pakistan. Even today Pakistan has to endure attacks from Baluchi tribesmen, armed and trained by India in sanctuaries provided by Afghanistan.

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As far as India is concerned, the very idea of Pakistan was unacceptable to them. The Indians fought tooth and nail to prevent the independence of Pakistan, and having failed in that endeavor they have nibbled away at Pakistan at every opportunity.

For example, immediately after independence from Britain, India annexed Kashmir on the basis of a fraudulently engineered accession. Since then India has continued to defy United Nations Security Council resolutions requiring the exercise of self-determination by the people of Kashmir. India also fueled a civil war in Pakistan, while arming and training a group called Mukti Bahni who by today’s definition can be called a terrorist group, and attacked East Pakistan to break the country apart. Furthermore, while Pakistan was struggling with the rest of the free world to reverse the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, India - a Soviet client state, occupied Siachin Glacier and parts of Neelum Valley in Kashmir. At present India is training and arming rebellious Baluchi tribesmen in Afghanistan in the hope of tearing Baluchistan from Pakistan.

Even now, after almost 60 years of Pakistan’s existence, senior Indian leadership talks of a confederation between India and Pakistan, which effectively means the end of Pakistani sovereignty, meanwhile the Indian military develops doctrines and holds regular exercises to practice cutting the remainder of Pakistan in two.

Thus Pakistan’s geo-strategic environment is one of constant and fatal threats from neighbors who have demonstrated the desire, acquired the capability and taken affirmative action towards the destruction of the Pakistani state.

The above environment is routinely left out of any examination of Pakistani conduct or policies, with the result that there is a bank of erroneous analyses with inaccurate conclusions relating to Pakistan out there, ready to misguide anyone who happens to access such disinformation.

PakDef E-Reporter’s mission is to counter disinformation about Pakistan by providing unadulterated truth. We invite you to sample what you can expect in PakDef E-Reporter by visiting www.pakdef.info, where you will find detailed articles, thought provoking reports and pictorial libraries relating to Pakistan’s military and geo-strategic issues.

We hope to be your library of facts, in an ocean of rumor mills.

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Bunker News

Corps Commander witnesses Pak-Turkey joint exercises

ESHAWAR (September 14 2006): exercise. Special Forces of both the armies Corps Commander, Lieutenant demonstrated a raid on terrorists' camp by P General Mohammed Hamid Khan using special service techniques and witnessed ongoing Pak-Turkey joint destroyed the camp by direct snap action. exercise Ataturk V being conducted in surrounding area of Tarbela, said a release Corps Commander went around the exercise of Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) area and met the troops of both the here on Tuesday. countries. He appreciated the hard work, commitment and efficiency displayed by the Turkish Special Forces were jointly troops and hoped that such exercises would participating in conduct of special prove mutually beneficial for both the operational skills, which include heli-borne armies. training, cordon/search operations, direct snap action, fighting in built up areas and Highlighting the existing brotherly ties anti terrorists skills with Pakistani Special between two countries he said there was a Services Group (SSG) troops. The need to enhance the scope of similar contingent from Turkey consists of 29 all exercises in the future. Turkish Brigadier ranks from mountain commandos and General Mustafa Sardar Ekizoglu Special Forces. appreciated the professional standard displayed by the troops participating in Corps Commander accompanied by the exercises and expressed that such interaction Commandant of Mountain and Commando would continue in future. Earlier, on arrival School Turkish Army, Brigadier General, in exercise area Corps Commander was Mustafa Sardar Ekizoglu, General Officer given a detailed briefing on the concept and Commanding Special Services Group, conduct of the exercise by local Major General Tahir Mahmood and senior commanders. officers of both the armies witnessed the

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2006

Pakistan and Italy to enhance defence ties

RAWALPINDI (September 14 2006): and Minster for Defence, Rao Sikandar Pakistan and Italy have expressed the desire Iqbal, and the visiting Italian Chief of to enhance defence co-operation between Defence Staff, Admiral Giampaolo DI the two countries. This was discussed during Paola, here on Wednesday. a meeting between Senior Federal Minister

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The meeting discussed the geo-political in diverse fields particularly in the area of situation of the region and underlined the defence. need for stronger co-operation between the two countries. The Minister informed the The meeting also discussed the visiting dignitary developments taking place in Afghanistan. The Minister told the Italian Chief of that Pakistan attached greater importance to Defence Staff that Pakistan was committed its relations with Italy and wanted to to fighting and curbing terrorism and broaden and deepen its relations with Italy extremism and had gained tremendous success in this regard. The Minister also appreciated Italy's prompt assistance for relief efforts in the quake affected areas.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2006

Pakistan, US begin joint naval exercises

KARACHI, Sept 4: Pakistani and US naval phases and involve the US aircraft carrier forces began a series of exercises on Enterprise, guided missile frigate USS Monday aimed at improving counter- Nicholas, guided missile destroyer USS terrorism capabilities, a Pakistani navy McFaul and attack submarine USS spokesman said. The exercises, named Albuquerque.—Reuters ‘Inspired Union’, will be held in three

PN Aviation Reactivates P-3C Orion

Karachi—Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Afzal Tahir Tuesday morning According to Inter Services Public Relations reaffirmed Pakistan Navy’s commitment to Directorate (navy) at HQ Comkar Admiral the maritime component of operation Afzal Tahir said the illegal activities like ‘Enduring Freedom’ and reiterated its smuggling of arms, proliferation of weapons pledge to continue playing an active role in of mass destruction, drug and human the global war on terrorism. trafficking must be deterred and neutralized to make the world a peaceful and safer place Addressing the role out and first test flight to live. ceremony of P3C Orion aircraft held at Naval Aviation base PNS Mehran the naval He was sure that induction of reactivated chief emphasized the urgent need to deny P3Cs would contribute significantly to this the use of sea routes for the acts of end, besides PN ships which already make terrorism.

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an important part of coalition maritime The aircraft P3C were manufactured in 1990 campaign plan. at Lockheed’s plant in California and flew at

He extended his gratitude to the US PNS Mehran during 1999. With the government for its generous support in overhaul of both the aircraft becoming due, reactivation and making the aircraft they were grounded for a period of 5 years. operational. He commended all engineers Later a contract to reactivate two P3Cs was and technicians whose dedicated efforts and signed between Lockheed and US Navy in contribution towards making the aircraft fly January 2005 and maintenance work on both today. He termed the roll out the first step in the aircraft was undertaken concurrently by the process of developing a full fledge P3C Lockheed and Pakistan Navy personnel and capability based on acquisition and technicians from OGMA. modernization of 9 aircraft and hoped that it P3C Orion is a four engine highly will bring a major transformation in naval maneuverable all weather aircraft primarily air arm in terms of assets and capability. designed for reconnaissance, anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel operations. It is 116 Earlier in his welcome address Commander feet long and has a maximum speed of 410 Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Asaf Humayun kts. It is one of the fastest turbo prop aircraft gave details of the reactivation program of and most widely used LRMP in the world. P3C Orion aircraft. Later Chief of the Naval Staff formally performed the roll out of PC Distinguished features of Orion are longer 82. The ceremony was attended by US endurance, multiple role capability, variety Consul General at Karachi, senior naval of integrated sensors and above all capacity officers, naval aviators and officials of to carry wide array of anti-surface and Lockheed Martin and OGMA. submarine weapons like harpoons, torpedoes, depth charges, mines and rockets. By virtue of its extraordinary weapon carrying capability, P3C is known “Airborne Destroyer”. Air Chief Opens 'refurbished sector operation centre'

SARGODHA (May 19, 2006): Pakistan Air system procured in 1980's, says a press Force Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief release. Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed inaugurated newly refurbished Sector While addressing on the occasion, the Air Operations Centre at Sargodha Thursday. Chief said," The new automation system The Sector Operations Centre has been re- would act as a force multiplier and will equipped with state of the art automation ensure unhindered air defense operations system, which is compatible with future during peace as well as during war time". requirements. The newly installed system, With the induction of indigenously which is indigenously built by Pakistan Air developed automation system Pakistan Air Force, has replaced the old automation Force has attained self-reliance in

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establishing its command and control Marshal Rashid Kaleem, Vice Chief of the network. Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Ayaz Mahmood, Air Officer Commanding, Headquarters Air On his arrival, Sector Commander Air Defence Command, Air Vice Marshal Commodore Aftab Ahmed gave a detailed Muhammad Yousaf Air Officer briefing. The ceremony was attended by Air Commanding, Headquarters Central Air Command and other senior officers.

Change of Epaulletes for PN & PAF

Both PAF and Pakistan navy are changing patches (that show the rank) are going to be the shoulder patches on their uniforms to of the same design as the UAE defense make them like the army. Now the shoulder forces.

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The First Cyber War – Part 1 Author: Akram Ishaq, Pak Def Cyber Security Expert

arachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, KPH. All of this would make for some Islamabad, all of Pakistan is in exciting exercises. Kdarkness. As people scramble to startup their generators in housing schemes D160 however is going nowhere. Its around Air Headquarters in Chaklala, they powerful generators are humming yet there notice something they had never seen are no lights. The SIEMENS – SINAVY before. The Air Headquarters is itself in which has only recently replaced the older complete darkness. They don’t think much power management system in all PN of it and continue to fumble around with Destroyers is unable to process any DC their old Honda petrol 5HP generators. The electricity. Generators are running but no MP guards outside the 10th Corp gates consumable electricity is being output. The begin to wonder as minutes click into hours. COMKAR echoes, “This does not look It is 2100 hours. Lights are now out for right”. He is right. SINAVY is crippled and nearly 2 hours. so is every Destroyer in the Pakistani Navy.

704 miles away in Karachi, on D160 A hum could be heard just before everything Alamgir the COMKAR is visiting to partake started to act up in Capt. Hamid’s MBT2000 in unit exercises. Alamgir was recently fitted Al-Khalid somewhere in the vast flat desert with a Chinese CWIS on trial basis. The plains of North Eastern Sindh. Hamid was new CWIS is similar to the US Phalanx and part of a conversion unit weaning away from the COMKAR is on the D160 primarily to their Chinese T-59’s. Much to their joy their view its first trial performance. Existing PN T-59’s were not being mothballed. The boys Phalanx systems at the end of their had gotten to love their “tins” as they called operational life and Pakistan Navy is eager them. Their “tins” were undergoing a major to replace them with what is being marketed upgrade with over 50 feature enhancements by the Chinese as an advanced version of and rising like a Phoenix into the respectable Phalanx. Chinese and SATUMA engineers Al-Zarrars. Hamid was part of the are also on deck. SATUMA is pitching its independent armored brigade that was newest Tunder drones. There is a healthy receiving the new Al-Khalid tanks. But as rivalry between the Chinese and the things stood now their Al-Khalids were SATUMA’s Pakistani engineers. Nobody going nowhere. All of the 12 units had doubts the outcome of what would happen suddenly stopped working. But to their to a drone traveling at 320 KPH when it embarrassment the T- comes within the CWIS’ operational range. But SATUMA has some surprises that the 59’s were still operational and their noisy Chinese do not know. The newer version of diesel engines were roaring in joy. The hum the drone has a stealthy profile that reduces that seemed to herald the system outage on its signature considerably making radar the Al-Khalids was still there. What was it? acquisition hard. Their newer drones are Nobody could tell. also faster with speeds approaching 400

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Air Traffic Controller Hamid Jamil could disaster recovery and redundancy system in have sworn he saw a blimp in his sector. He place. Karachi Stock Exchange had was operating from ATC South in Karachi mandated stringent guidelines for all KSE but was responsible for his Stand Alone SSR members and Westminster was in the lead in Radar Station in Rojhan. The blimp was adopting and exceeding all the guidelines. there for a second then it was gone. But However what they encountered next made Hamid had bigger issues, the entire ATC this particular electrical outage anything but South facility had no power. They were the regular load shedding event. The team tracking 16 air assets just when everything looks on in horror as all active computers went black. The US Ambassador was on his have frozen. Multiple reboots of servers and Learjet en-route from Islamabad and only 7 desktops results in memory exception at minutes from Jinnah Airport, so obviously boot, the proverbial Blue Screen of death. people were sweating bullets. ATC South All IT Systems at Westminster are dead. was in complete chaos. There was no contingency planning and no SOP had Around the country people are beginning to kicked in. Alternative power-supply should realize that something very wrong and have come up by now. As people scurried to deliberate has happened but cannot explain establish out of band communications with it. The Civilian government’s Emergency all aircrafts, he could hear the beeps of the Coordination Organization has collapsed. UPS systems, but his scopes were still NR3C and C4I the two structurally blank. What was going on, he wondered. responsible organizations are out of This did not look right, he thought. commission. They are having a hard enough time to get their systems and Westminster Trading House in Karachi was communications off the ground let alone the a premiere investment bank. The company human resource to understand and react to had grown from its humble beginnings into what has just happened. Pakistan is under a a regional outfit through the sheer dedication massive cyber and electronic attack, but and hard work of its employees. As the trade finds herself entirely defenseless. There are operations team settles in for a long night of no cyber warriors at the helm ready to trade reconciliation. Midway through their counter and mitigate the damage. Pakistan is effort they notice a flicker in all lights. They crippling and the morning will bring untold are used to such flickers. Electricity outages disaster to this nuclear nation of a 160 in Karachi are common and they figure their million souls. Enterprise UPS system has kicked in. They are right it has, and in another 5 minutes Note to Readers: The above storyline is their massive power generators will kick in entirely fictional. Any similarities to actual for a seamless transition to their backup persons, places or events are coincidental supply. Westminster has an effective and unintentional.

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Gwadar: Competition From All Sides By Niaz

ooking at the map, within a couple of thru its two main ports of Fujairah and Jebel day’s sailing time; main ports in and Ali handled 5.5 million tons of containerized L around the Arabian/Persian Gulf, goods and 17.2 millions tons of petroleum Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea going products in 2005. Fujairah never quite west are: realized it full potential. While it is the “Taxi Stand” for oil tankers looking for Arabian Sea: Gwadar, Jiwani (Pakistan) business in the Arab Gulf; it has been Chah Bahar (Iran) Khor Fakkan, Fujairah completely overshadowed by its cousin (UAE), Sohar, Mina Al Fahl, Port Sultan Jebel Ali. Currently the main activity at Qaboos, Salalah (Oman) Arabian /Persian Fujairah is to provide bunker fuel to the Gulf: Bandar Abbas (Iran), Jebel Ali, Port ships waiting around for business. Since Rashid, Sharjah, Hamriyia (UAE). DPA manages both these ports, suppose it doesn’t matter which port gets the business. Among the non Pakistani ports, Bandar Abbas is already very congested. It is one of Salalah, which started working in 2002, is the main Iranian import and export points meant mainly for East African and Red Sea located at the tip of the Hormuz Straits. It coast demand. Despite having 1.3 kilometers has rail connections with northern Iran. of continuous quay, it could only manage Already some of the Central Asian trade 250 thousand tons of business during 2005. goes thru here. One of the export routes from Turkmenistan oil refineries is by sea to Chah Bahar has 8 berths with 11.9 meters northern Iranian Caspian ports of Sarkhs, or draft. It has the disadvantage of being too far Amir Abad and subsequently by rail to south and East on the Iranian Coast. It has Bandar Abbas. no rail link to northern Iran. Indians were trying to develop this port in direct UAE ports of Port Rashid, Sharjah, and competition with Gwadar. Their plan was to Hamriya are quite close to each other and construct a rail link to Bam which is can be considered as Dubai for practical connected to Iranian rail system and a new purposes. These ports service mainly the road link in Afghanistan between Zaranj and UAE and Arab Gulf demand. Delaram. Don’t know at what stage of development this program is. Besides, with Jebel Ali is a different case. It has large rail connection to Bu Shahr and Bandar commercial oil storage terminals totaling 16 Abbas already in place, Chah Bahar is million barrels, an oil refinery, gasoline destined to remain a “nothing” port for manufacturing and a very large container commercial purposes. terminal. Total number of berths is 67 out which 6 berths are for oil. Main channel is US will use all of its political muscle to stop 17 meters deep with draft at oil berths is development of Chah Bahar. So we don’t 13.5 meters. Jebel Ali/Dubai is home to 4000 companies. Dubai Ports Authority,

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have too much to worry about it competing power centers in Pakistan realize this. If for Central Asian business with Gwadar. future of Pakistan lies in Gwadar, it must Jebel Ali is a hub for the entire region never enter in any ones mind to make including Pakistan and Indian West coast. Gwadar any thing other than another Jebel The port charges are comparatively low Ali. We would like Gwadar to be the main compared to say Karachi and Bandar Abbas. route for exports and imports to Afghanistan Also Dubai govt had the foresight to realize and Central Asia. This however will not that since Dubai had very little oil, to happen by just building the port facilities develop they had to become a service centre and hoping. We also need to provide for the Arab Gulf and South West Asia. In efficient communication infra structure and this they emulated Singapore’s example. safe passage of goods even if these may be Thus very little red tape, ease of connection Indian. Mekran coastal highway on the other to virtually everywhere in the world and hand broke down before it really started. We cheap and efficient labor which Indian state need good roads thru Chaman /Kabul of Kerala was happy to provide. Jebel Ali /Kunduz to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Also started in 1977 and Fujairah in 1978. Even another route could be via Qandhar, Heart though Abu Dhabi had most of the money, into Turkmenistan. At least the road from the economic progress in Abu Dhabi lagged Gwadar to Quetta should be of Super far behind Dubai. I visited Abu Dhabi as Highway standard. Additionally, we need well as Dubai in 1985 and at that time Abu peace in Afghanistan and Baluchistan before Dhabi was ahead but no longer. our dream can be realized. Situation in Afghanistan is beyond our control and Therefore for Gwadar development Pakistan anyone’s guess as to what is in store; I find has only one example to follow; that is Jebel it hard to see political will in GOP or Ali but not thru DPA because of conflict of foresight in Baluchi Sardars to let it happen interest. It has taken Dubai 20 years to reach in a hurry inside Pakistan. where it is now. For this completely peaceful law and order situation and highly Regret to say that in the current scenario it is developed road network is a must. Why highly unlikely that Gwadar would amount would any agency spend lot of time and to any other than another Chah Bahar in the efforts to promote a port which would take immediate future. business away from Jebel Ali? Hope that

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Multan Conference Jan. 1972 The Birth of Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Program. By Mansoor Ahmed

ulfiqar Ali Bhutto came into power Pakistan was to summon a Pakistani nuclear on December 20, 1971, and convened engineer who was serving as head of Z a meeting of fifty scientists from all Reactor Engineering Division at the IAEA, over Pakistan in Quetta on January 13, 1972, Mr. Munir Ahmed Khan, to prepare a report which could not be held due to bad weather about the status of the nuclear program in and inadequate conference facilities. It was Pakistan and was to visit all PAEC facilities, rescheduled for January 20th, in Multan ,at including PINSTECH. By the time the the residence of the then Chief Minister of Multan Conference was summoned, Munir Punjab, Nawab Sadiq Hussain Quershi. Ahmed Khan had completed his round of the country's nuclear facilities and presented One of the first official tasks undertaken by his report to Bhutto. Bhutto after assuming power as President of

Multan: Jan 20th, 1972 at the Multan conference. Bashiruddin Mahmood is addressing the audience, on the stage is President Bhutto in the centre, to his left is Dr. Abdus Salam, to his right is Dr. I.H. Usmani

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Earlier, Bhutto had held several meetings fight the case for a Nuclear Pakistan”, with with Munir Ahmed Khan in Vienna where Bashiruddin Mahmood as its President. they had dwelt at length on the options Another society known as the "Association available for Pakistan in the wake of the of scientists and engineers of PAEC" was Indian nuclear program which was making formed with Dr. Zafar Ullah as its President rapid progress. Bhutto had even arranged a and Dr. Haseebullah as General Secretary. meeting between Munir Ahmed Khan and These were formed in an apparent revolt President Ayub Khan in December 1965, in against the PAEC leadership. On hearing the London, where he hoped Ayub could be news of the Multan Conference being held convinced of the necessity of acquiring and in the near future, the Association of nuclear developing nuclear technology for Pakistan. engineers of Pakistan sent a telegram to Bhutto was pacing up and down in the President Bhutto with the request that they lobby, waiting as Munir Ahmed Khan and should be allowed to attend the Conference President Ayub were holding a meeting so that the younger lot could be represented. inside. When Munir came out, Bhutto asked They received the reply that Bashiruddin him what had happened, and Munir replied " Mahmood and two other representatives of The President did not agree". Bhutto replied, the association of nuclear engineers of " do not worry, our turn will come". And the Pakistan could attend the event. Abdul turn came right after the fall of Dhaka. Majid Chaudhry and Mahmood Ahmad Shad accompanied Bashiruddin Mahmood The day after the fall of East Pakistan was a to Multan. day of gloom and intense depression in PINSTECH . A group of young scientists, The scientists and engineers who were at the engineers and technicians, which consisted Multan Conference were far and away the mostly of the latter, defying the section 144 best brains in Pakistan, and some were as which prohibited any public protests, came good as could be found anywhere in the out in the form of a procession and gathered world. Three names are especially worth at Chandni chowk on Murree Road, remembering: Rawalpindi. They wanted to protest the failure of the military government and to Dr. Abdus Salam, “the professor” to his register their immense rage at the tragedy of worshipping colleagues, had founded the the separation of East Pakistan. Some of International Centre of Theoretical Physics them made fiery speeches and said that “If (ICTP), in Trieste, Italy, and would go on to Pakistan had made an atomic bomb, India win the Nobel Peace Prize for Physics in would never have dared to attack the 1979. He had served as Scientific Advisor to country”. Shortly afterwards, news about the President Ayub Khan and had been retained upcoming Multan Conference reached in that capacity by President Bhutto, and he PINSTECH, where two organizations had reached a day ahead of the Conference. He been formed by the young scientists and had been the protector and mentor of Dr. engineers to voice their opinions about the I.H. Usmani and as he had done on several path PAEC they wanted to take. One such occasions in the past, he tried once again to society was known as the “Association of protect him from the upcoming disaster. nuclear engineers of Pakistan” which was formed so that “the nuclear engineers would

Dr. I.H. Usmani had gained prominence as under Munir Khan's guiding hand would by chairman of the PAEC and would go on to 1981 go on to indigenously develop the pilot build his reputation as an international civil reprocessing plant known as "New Labs" in servant, specializing in energy questions at PINSTECH and Sakhi Muhammad Bhutta. the United Nations. Dr. Ghulam Murtaza , Dr. Kamaluddin, Dr. And the man Bhutto would name to replace Munir Rashid and Dr. Fiazuddin represented Usmani as head of the nuclear program and the Physics Department of Quaid-i-Azam chairman of the PAEC, Munir Ahmed Khan, University, Islamabad. Dr. Rafi Muhammad had just come with high marks from the Chaudhri, from the Physics Department of I.A.E.A., in Vienna, where he had been Govt College, Lahore, the mentor of a whole serving as Head of Reactor Engineering generation of scientists and engineers of Division. He as head of the PAEC would go PAEC and PINSTECH also attended the on to make the nuclear dream come true meeting. with his team by 1983 when they conducted the first nuclear cold tests. Dr. Abdus Salam had made Hotel Shezan as his head office and immediately everyone In addition, scientists and engineers from started gravitating around him. He had been various government organizations and the mentor and protector of Dr. I.H. Usmani universities also attended the conference, but and as he had done on several occasions in the bulk of the participants came from the past, he tried once again to protect him PINSTECH. Other participants from PAEC from the upcoming disaster. Dr. Usmani included Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, who would viewed the newly formed Associations of succeed Munir Ahmed Khan as PAEC PINSTECH as a plot to oust him and had chairman in 1991 and would oversee started a dialogue with its office bearers by Pakistan’s nuclear tests in 1998. He, as the convening meetings in PINSTECH longest serving Member (Technical) PAEC encouraging the belligerent scientists to before becoming chairman PAEC would speak up their minds. Often these meetings witness the many milestones of Pakistan’s turned into ugly confrontations. In a last nuclear program. There was also Hafeez ditch effort, Dr. Salam and Dr. I.H Usmani Qureshi, who as the first head of the tried to bridle the young scientists, urging Directorate of Technical Development and telling them to keep the interest of the (DTD) of PAEC would lay the foundations organization foremost in speeches at the of nuclear weapon design and development, meeting the next day. Both tutored the and would carried out several cold tests. The would-be-speakers about what ought to be DTD were the designers and manufacturers said and what ought not, but once the of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. Others meeting got underway, there was no way the included Dr. Zafarullah, Dr. Haseebullah, speakers could be controlled. Dr. Amir Muhammad Khan, Bashiruddin Mahmood, who under Munir Ahmed Khan The meeting started with speeches by Dr. would go on to establish the foundations of Usmani and Dr. Salam and then the house the uranium enrichment program and build was thrown open for discussion by Bhutto the plutonium producing nuclear reactor at for inviting the “young scientists” to speak Khushab, Abdul Majeed Chaudhri who their mind. Those who spoke included Dr.

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Rafi Chaudhri, Dr Zafar Ullah , Hafeez they think a bomb is being made in that Qureshi , Dr Amir Muhammad Khan, S.M. factory and that will save this country and Bhutta and Bashiruddin Mahmood. Dr Rafi that should be the program of this country. If Chaudhri, who had seen a model of “The Fat you go inside, there is no program at all, Man” in a museum in the United States said nothing practical is being done in these labs, he was perhaps the only one among the and only the building is there. So what we scientists present who had actually seen an need to do is to develop a reprocessing atom bomb. plant, uranium enrichment program and Pakistan should acquire the capability to Several speakers dwelt greatly on their make fuel and ultimately make the bomb.” qualifications and the laurels they had won. Hearing this, Bhutto had a stunned It was Bashiruddin Mahmood's speech that expression on his face. got the full attention of Z.A. Bhutto. On the morning of the conference, Bashiruddin and Then Bhutto said that there would be no his colleagues reached the venue ahead of more speakers and took the podium himself. the others and began searching for their He addressed the assembled scientists and seats, but could not find their names engineers with the words, “we are engaged anywhere. They managed to be seated along in a thousand year war with India, and with the press representatives. Dr. I.H. Pakistan will never rest and we have to win Usmani was calling the names of speakers. this war and build the atomic bomb even if Bashiruddin Mahmood must have realized we have to eat grass. I want to know how that his name would not be called to speak much time you can do it in?" This triggered on the podium, and like a schoolboy he an outpouring of emotion and jubilation began raising his hand in the hope of being among the young scientists and engineers, called to the stage. When he raised his hand many of who tried to out do the other in the third time, Bhutto interrupted Usmani giving the shortest possible time frame for who was calling the next speaker and building the bomb. The atmosphere had pointing towards Bashiruddin and said “ No suddenly become electric. that young man.” Sakhi Muhammad Bhutta stood on his seat Bashiruddin Mahmood began with the and kept shouting “three years”, Sultan words: “Mr. President, various people who Bashiruddin Mahmood kept repeating “five have spoken before me have told you that years”, and someone else shouted seven. you are a very great man, and that they are Another experienced scientist jumped in and not less than anybody but what is missing is broke the magic of the moment. “It isn’t like that no one has spoken what Pakistan should making firecrackers, you know. We don’t do. Sir I tell you that the conductor of the know how long it will take. It’s all nonsense. bus, which takes us to PINSTECH, knows It can’t be done that way”. Bhutto was better than these scientists sitting here about amused and he said “Well, much as I what Pakistan should do. When the bus appreciate your enthusiasm, this is a very stops there, he shouts, Nilore bomb factory, serious political decision, which Pakistan Nilore bomb factory, Nilore bomb factory, must make, So can do you it?’ and the that is what the people expect from PAEC, scientists and engineers said “ Yes, we can do it, given the resources and given the

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facilities’. Bhutto’s answer was simple, “ I PAEC. Dr. I.H. Usmani is being made shall find you the resources and the Secretary, Science & Technology and I have facilities”. He went on to say “I want the brought a very energetic and young nuclear bomb in three years”. This captured the engineer, with so many years of mood of the moment and it exalted the international experience and exposure at the enthusiastic scientists and engineers to do IAEA, Munir Ahmed Khan, who will be the their utmost to build the bomb in the shortest new chairman of PAEC.” Munir Ahmed possible time. Some other accounts suggest Khan was sitting in the front row, and that Bhutto had given a "five year" time Bhutto asked him to show himself to the frame to build the bomb. Whether it was audience. Munir stood up and he was three years or five, it was symbolic as it greeted with applause. Once Bhutto’s speech became a rallying cry for the scientists and was over, the participants of the conference engineers to do their utmost for the nuclear mixed freely with each other. When Munir program. Time ofcourse was of the essence, Ahmed Khan came across Bashiruddin because Bhutto and the scientists and Mahmood, he said to him, “ you made the engineers knew full well that India was best speech today” and “Inshallah we will making rapid strides towards the making of do it!” It was a historic occasion in the the atomic bomb and it would only be a history of Pakistan, as it marked the matter of time when India would become a beginning of the quest for the atomic bomb nuclear threat and directly threaten and a sustainable and viable nuclear Pakistan's very existence. The "Similing weapons program. The journey towards Buddha" was indeed just two years away. nuclear Pakistan had begun. From this He further said “I am going to make some moment on, many thousands of scientists immediate changes in the structure of and engineers of PAEC and other affiliated organizations would burn midnight oil, and against all the odds would put Pakistan on the nuclear map of the world.

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End of the line for the once proud Hangor class By: Usman Ansari

fter over thirty years of exemplary service the Hangor class were finally decommissioned in A early 2006, bringing to an end a glowing era of submarine service for the PN.

The PNS/M Hangor (Pennant Number S131) crew lined up on her casing prior to entering harbour in January 1997.

Number Name Laid Down Launched Commisioned S131 Hangor 1 Dec 1967 28 June 1969 12 Jan 1970 S132 Shushhuk 1 Dec 1967 30 July 1969 12 Jan 1970 S133 Mangro 8 July 1968 7 Feb 1970 8 Aug 1970 S134 Ghazi 12 May 1967 23 Sep 1968 1 Oct 1969 Ex-Cachalote

DISP.SURFACED (tonnes): 873.0 DISP.DIVED (tonnes): 1054.0 LENGTH (m): 57.80 BEAM (m): 6.8 DRAUGHT (m): 4.6 SPEED (knots): 13.5 surfaced; 16 dived.

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RANGE (nm): 2,700 at 12.5 kt; 10,000 at 7 kt surfaced; 4,500 at 5 kt; 3,000 at 7 kt snorting

Weapons: 12 - 21.7 in (550 mm) (8 bow, 4 stern) tubes. Sub-Harpoon after re-fit in 1986.

COMPLEMENT : 53 (7 officers)

The French Daphne SSKs were highly professionalism of the PN submariners and popular, and benefited extensively from their lethality, Mangro, commanded by German WWII technology, specifically that Commander Zahir Shah (later Rear from the Type-XXI. Now considered Admiral), succeeded in scoring a simulated cramped and noisy in their time they were 'kill' on USS Enterprise during an efficient killers. They served the PN since international exercise off Karachi in 1974. 1970 and initiated the current Pakistani submarine programme in being the first A replacement single hull, AIP design was submarines to be domestically re-fitted. mentioned during IDEAS 2004. The French, Though superseded by two Agosta-70s in desperate not to lose a valued customer are the late 1970s they were retained and reportedly offering a new design concept received sub-Harpoon capability during a re- referred to as ‘Marlin’. Though little more fit in 1986. Approaching the end of their than speculation at present, it may be a lives they are still actively defending conventionally powered test bed for the Pakistan, though their days are numbered. Barracuda SSN that shall join the French navy early next decade. Possibilities remain Their finest hour came when they formed with Germany as a potential alternative the PN's main counter thrust against the IN European supplier, though it has not during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. On 5th previously sold Pakistan submarines. The December 1971 Hangor became the first Type-212A and the Type214 that are submarine to sink an enemy warship since presently on offer are at the very cutting WWII. The achievement, its circumstances, edge of SSK technology though and would and her safe arrival in Karachi were a be worthwhile replacements for the Hangor considerable feat. To underscore the class. A final decision should be made soon.

The Sinking of INS Khukri

Undoubtedly the one defining, awe inspiring In the early hours of 22 November 1971, moment during the long life of the Hangors, Hangor set off for her patrol area off the was the sinking of the Indian Navy frigate Kathiawar coast, under the command of INS Khukri. This seems to have been their Commander Ahmed Tasnim. It was still a defining moment of glory, in which they routine reconnaissance basked for the rest of their operational lives.

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patrol, despite her identification number Hangor had sailed with explicit orders not to having been painted out. War with India was attack any targets unless attacked, or imminent due to the crisis over East receiving cancellation of the order. Unable Pakistan, but hostilities had not yet broken to attack, (she had not yet been notified of out in the West. the general outbreak of hostilities); the fleet escaped leaving in its wake an undetected The surprise with which the war came upon and frustrated Hangor. She reported her the PN was used to the fullest advantage by findings, as soon it was safe to do so. At the IN. The Pakistani fleet was caught 08:20 on the morning of the 4th she received completely unawares, learning of the notification of the general outbreak of declaration of war via a radio broadcast. hostilities. Though denied the opportunity Initially the PN was to come off the worst for a kill, the IN fearing submarine detection suffering at the hands of Indian missile of the fleet, scrapped its plans for another firing patrol boats that had been towed out missile attack on Karachi for the night of the into the Arabian Sea to increase their range. 5th. The IN ‘west fleet’ was ordered south, Champing at the bit, Hangor and her sisters out of the area of operations. had to settle the score. Soon afterwards, the failure of a cooling The IN held the Pakistani submarine fleet in pump jeopardised the rest of Hangor's high regard, Ghazi, a US Tench Class boat patrol. In peacetime this would have had been a headache during 1965. She had necessitated a return to port, but such a deterred the IN from offensive action and move would have certainly taken Hangor was now searching for the IN carrier out of the war. Repairs that would have (Vikrant), in the Bay of Bengal. In West probably taken a week had to be carried out Pakistan the three Daphne's were the only in matter of hours. Pulling together the crew offensive naval weapon available. made the impossible possible in less than 48 hours under the nose of the enemy, allowing Two days after setting out Hangor began to her to renew her hunt. detect increased enemy air activity. On 1st December she was ordered to shift into the Thwarted by slow speed and at times area off Bombay after Mangro had shallow water, Hangor was unable to close completed her patrol, and therefore widened in on any new targets for the next few her search area in the hunt for IN ships. The nights. On December 9th she headed north next night, whilst surfaced she detected a after picking up radar emissions and radio large fleet of enemy warships from their traffic. Investigation revealed two sonar- radar emissions heading east some 35 miles equipped warships. They were six to eight away. Closing on the formation by nine miles away, but travelling too fast to attack. miles she tracked them using sonar. In the Both ships were conducting a rectangular early hours of the 3rd December she came to anti-submarine search pattern. This enabled periscope depth and saw an enemy fleet of an accurate prediction of their course and set six escorts screening a main body of four Hangor up ahead of them, in position to ships. It was the IN 'West Fleet' led by the prepare for an attack, by 19:00. cruiser Mysore which had sailed from Bombay the previous day. She closed in.

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Hangor lay in wait as both ships continued course home she began to hear the sounds of to follow their search pattern. At 19:15 the an intensive anti-submarine barrage as the 'Action Stations' order was given. At 19:30 IN launched a massive hunt to destroy her. she came up to periscope depth. Radar For four days in the darkness of her contact was made with the ships. They were undersea realm, Hangor evaded the full nearly ten kilometres away. Still undetected might of the combined IN/IAF anti- she dived and closed in on them using sonar. submarine effort (Operation Falcon), from At 19:57 she was in position. A homing southwest of Diu Head to the point just short torpedo was fired 'down the throat' at the of PAF air-strike range. Only once did the first ship. It was tracked all the way to and IN come close enough to shake her with a underneath the target, (where the warhead depth charge explosion. They gave up the should have detonated) but no explosion was hunt on the 13th after the further loss of an heard. Worse still the intended target, now Alize anti-submarine aircraft and its crew. alerted to her presence, quickly turned away, Hangor reached a jubilant Karachi five days and the second ship was bearing down on later. her. A quick fix was made on the second ship that was still running in for an attack, Hangor only learnt her targets had been and a torpedo fired. Detecting the on- Kirpan and Khukri of the 'Fourteenth Frigate coming torpedo it tried to turn away but the Squadron' after the war. Khukri was sunk, torpedo followed. A huge explosion at 20:19 whilst Kirpan escaped. The morale of the IN signalled the torpedo found its mark. fell from the highs following the missile However, the ship that had been Hangor's attacks on Karachi after loss of Khukri and initial target was now bearing down upon PN morale was boosted. Despite missing out her. on an attack on Mysore, a consolation for PN losses had been found in sinking Khukri Another torpedo was now fired at this ship. and the safe return of Hangor making It turned and sped away, and after a while, a history in the process as the first submarine faint explosion was heard. Whether the to have sunk an enemy warship in wartime second ship had been damaged or not it was since WWII. She remains the only SSK, and time for Hangor to make her escape. The one fo two submarines to have done so. She area would soon be swarming with every IN was joined in this ‘select club’ by the British asset in the area eager to avenge Hangor’s SSN, HMS Conqueror, in 1982 after she actions. Commander Tasnim therefore gave sank the Argentine cruiser, the General orders for Hangor to make for the safety of Belgrano. deep waters to the west. As she plotted a

'Sinking' of USS Enterprise

Whilst Khukri may well have been submarine crews were tested against a far dismissed in some quarters as having been more potent ‘enemy’. an old frigate, in an attempt to play down the skill of Hangor’s crew, it was not long Winter 1974 saw a large-scale aerial, surface before the professionalism of the PN and sub-surface naval exercise held off the

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waters of Karachi. The types, number of attack anyhow. Penetrating the hostile net ships and level of technology were far around the main body she began to pick up beyond what the PN was used to. There the sound of heavy propellers. Still thinking were a couple of aircraft carriers, (one of she had been detected Mangro rose to them nuclear powered), their various periscope depth to visually identify her prey. escorts, nuclear powered and conventional The sight must have been awe inspiring, it submarines, and land based MPA. Needless was Enterprise! to say the waters around Karachi were rather crowded. A simulated torpedo attack was immediately made, indicated by the required pyrotechnic Mangro was at that time had recently come flare. Expecting a hostile horde to bear down under the command of Commander Mian upon her once the defenders realised she Zahir Shah. Towards the end of the exercise was there, Mangro waited. Nothing the participants were divided into two happened. There was a great deal of opposing groups. Mangro found herself puzzlement onboard Mangro. Nobody could opposed to the USS Enterprise Carrier explain the apparent indifference to her group. Being winter the clear air and the presence. Altering course so she followed colder water generally favoured the that of the fleet, Mangro began to take in all submarine hunters in all respects. Radar, that was around her. She was inside the left sonar and even visual detection capabilities half of the protective circular screen of the for submarine hunters were perfect. To aircraft carrier, and on her port bow. There make matters worse the sea was generally were ships ahead, to port, and to the rear of quite calm so anything breaking the surface Mangro, all still using sonar. (periscope or a snorkel) could be easily spotted. Suddenly there was panic when the picture from the periscope was obscured by white It was during this period that Mangro had smoke. Mangro feared she had been spotted her lucky break. A fleet of ships was and attacked by some stand off weapon, but detected far over the horizon. They were this turned out to be her own pyrotechnic making a huge amount of noise with their flare. The periscope had passed through the active sonar and were heading right for smoke that was still being emitted as it Mangro. She dived deep, taking advantage spluttered away on the surface. Taking of what thermal layers were present, and advantage of her position Mangro raised her crept towards the approaching fleet. Shah snorkel so she could recharge her depleted intended for Mangro to make a 'blind attack' battery, all the while keeping a close watch if it was possible, to get past the outer screen on the ships about her. This was especially of defending warships, and attack whatever so of Enterprise. The sudden change of it was they were protecting. course was soon made apparent. Enterprise had sailed into the wind to launch aircraft. Twisting and turning, Mangro made her way Mangro watched as they took off two at a forward expecting to be detected at any time. It also explained why Mangro had not moment. Suddenly the fleet changed been spotted. Luckily the aircraft were direction. Fearing detection Mangro pressed stealing the show and had distracted on. If detected she intended to make an everybody's attention, even the two anti-

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submarine helicopters that were hovering way over the horizon. Outside the screen about the carrier. As the planes took off it Mangro was back in a world where she was apparent that all could expect an American Orion or British Nimrod to swoop out of the sky and pounce efforts to locate submarine activity were on her at any moment. focussed outside the screen and not inside it. In the wide expanse of sea, no one had seen It was only back in Karachi that the crew of Mangro's flare. Mangro was surprised to learn that she had not been detected at any time whilst she was After some fifteen minutes the fleet was shadowing Enterprise, much to their beginning to pull away due to its superior embarrassment. Conversely it was a great speed. Mangro reluctantly stopped boost to the confidence and morale of her snorkelling, and wriggled her way through crew and testament of their professionalism. the screen leaving the fleet to carry on its Epilogue

The Hangor class faded into history along must pass. Hangor’s mission from with their exploits in early 2006. Well past henceforth shall be to ensure the memory of their prime, they had faithfully soldiered on the four brave and daring sisters is kept in service of their country until it was no alive. She represents a now long-distant time longer feasible for them to be operated any in 1971 when so much went wrong for longer. Hangor remains the only survivor of Pakistan, a time that cannot be allowed to be this once proud class of deadly steel fish, forgotten. For when all around them went preserved for posterity at the naval museum disastrously, and a gloom and uncertainty in Karachi. Her three sisters, Shushuk, settled over the nation, one thing at least Mangro and Ghazi, were beached nearby at went right. Hangor must now keep the Godvani, awaiting the horde of scrappers memory of this feat and time alive. She that would swarm over them with cutting performed all previous missions with relish, torches until nothing remained but memories and shall no doubt accept this new calling and fading photographs. However, all things with the same zeal.

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India’s Claim on Kashmir Has No Justification Rawalpindi Seminar 30 June, 1990

War is the most important human activity. It influences economy, politics, Under the new policy of openness, the social ethics, moral attitudes and almost all ISPR took up the task to approach writers human values. We fought three wars with and journalists for development of military our adversary. In 1948, we did not have literature. The year 1990 was devoted to the resources but the will to survive won us 1948 war. The first meeting in this victory. In 1965 the whole nation stood like connection was held on 30 June at Army a solid rock and the enemy was thwarted. Auditorium. The enemy analyzed the 65 war and came to the conclusion that as long as we were Brigadier (later Major General) Riaz united, she would never win. She hatched a Ullah, Director Public Relations while conspiracy to drive a wedge in our unity and explaining the aims and objectives of the in 1971 succeeded in dividing us. We, too, ISPR Writers Forum said: carried out an analysis but the reports remained buried in files.

“National power consists of five elements: diplomacy, politics, economy, psychological warfare and the Armed Forces. The psychological factor has an edge over other elements in the sense that with very little expenditure, it can reap great benefit. The Writers Forum aims at producing military literature on the wars we have fought”.

Brigadier Riaz Ullah told the audience local college was invited to review and that the year 1990 was earmarked for analyze the political circumstances that discussing and analyzing the 1948 war; 1991 prevailed during 1948. She has done her M. would be devoted to the 1965 war while in Phil from Quaid-e-Azam University and 1992, the 71 war will be studied. written a comprehensive paper on the Kashmir war. She recapitulated the The war breaks out when political arguments that are presented by India and negotiations fail. To understand a war in its Pakistan for their claim over Kashmir, she true perspective, it is inevitable to know the said. political background under which the war is fought. Miss Sibtain Tahira, a lecturer in a

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India’s Case on Kashmir

India demanded Kashmir’s accession on 2. That Nehru had sentimental the basis: attachment to Kashmir, being of Kashmiri origin. 1. That there were historical and cultural ties of the state with India. 3. Strategically Kashmir is vital to the For ages, it had been a part of India security of India. Its northern and remained under the rule of provinces are direct gateways to the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and north-west province of Pakistan and Zoroastrian dynasties for about 4000 northern Punjab. It is India’s only years; Hindu rulers developed and window to the central Asian gave peace and security to the state. Republics of USSR in the north, The main stress was that authority of China on the east and to Afghanistan decision vested in India. on the west

Pakistan’s Case on Kashmir

On the contrary Pakistan desired the Kashmir state to accede to Pakistan due to 3. The rivers Indus, Jhelum and the following unassailable facts: Chenab, which are the life-line of Pakistan providing its entire 1. The Jammu & Kashmir state was irrigation system, flow from the state geographically contiguous to into the plains of Pakistan, making Pakistan. India’s border with the whole a geographical unit. Kashmir was nominal. The state was connected with the outside world by 4. Economically also the state was railway through Sialkot city of dependant on Pakistan for all Pakistan. By road also its access to essential commodities. All transit the outside world was through the routes ran through Pakistan and Jhelum Valley road in Pakistan. Kashmir depended on the Pakistani ports for its exports and imports and 2. Being a Muslim majority state it flow of trade as well as tourist should have formed part of Pakistan traffic. on the principle on which the subcontinent was partitioned in Having presented the arguments of both 1947. In the Kashmir valley 93 per sides, Miss Sibtain Tahir opined, “Judged cent of the population was Muslim, from an impartial point of view there was in Jammu Muslims enjoyed a not the least justification of Kashmir’s majority of 61 per cent while in the accession to India except for a mere dozen northern region about 100% of miles near Pathankot where the population was Muslim.

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boundaries of India and Kashmir are of view Kashmir had no choice but to join contiguous. Thus considered from the social, Pakistan. cultural, racial, political and religious points

Operation Venus

Lieutenant Colonel Mukhtar Ahmed Gilani During 1948, he was posted to the 3rd (Retd.) has the honour of having Punjab Regiment which participated in commanded a Punjab Regiment which Operation “Venus”. First of all he presented conquered Jaurian in the 1965 war. He is the a comparison of forces the two countries had author of ten books and editor of a monthly in Kashmir during 1948. He said: devoted to the study of military affairs.

“India had deployed 12 brigades in Kashmir which had 250 artillery guns and a number of armoured regiments. IAF was also operative. On the contrary, only five Pakistani brigades were defending the liberated Kashmir borders. Only fifty artillery pieces were available to them.”

Lt.-Col Gilani talked about the high morale cared for personal comfort. Everybody was and state of motivation of Pakistani troops inspired, motivated and keen to do his best. who were keen to embrace Shahadat to Many civilians insisted on going with us for liberate occupied Kashmir. He said, “the various attacks with private weapons. They preparations made for launching “Operation used to help us in loading and unloading Venus” did not go waste, even though it was military stores and extend their full cancelled. It was due to these preparations cooperation to our engineer operating in the that India could not advance an inch from field”. their position and we effectively dominated the no man’s land”.

“Most of the men who participated in Kashmir Jihad had taken part in the Second World War, too, but there was something quite different in the Kashmir War. Nobody

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Pandu Operation

In May 1948, the Indian troops had occupied Commander 101 Brigade, planned to regain a feature known as Pandu in Chikothi the feature. Brigadier Salimullah, who was Sector. It was located at a height of 9000 serving with an artillery unit as a Lieutenant feet and its occupation by Indians had at that time, gave details of the operation: jeapordised our defences up to five miles south of Chikothi. Brigadier Akbar,

“Our immediate concern was the protection from air attacks. The Indian Air Force used to fly three missions daily, pick up targets and attack with bombs, rockets and machine guns. Soon we had to pay the penalty. The vehicles had to be parked along the road wherever some opening was available. Perhaps these were not well camouflaged and two of our tractors were destroyed. The price was high but we learnt the lesson and saved ourselves from any further loss”.

“Our next problem was the enemy mountain battery at Pandu. It was deployed at approximately 9000 feet and could effectively cover reverse slopes of our battalion at Sugna and the road up to Chinari. It was a big nuisance and brigade was keen to deal with it as soon as possible. The problem was its exact location as we did not have enough ammunition and could not afford wasteful engagement. The battery was well concealed. We being at lower heights could not see it due to the intervening high trees and a distance of over 6000 yards. God was kind to us. It rained heavily for 24 hours after which it became bright and sunny. The Sikh gunners took their guns out of the pits and hung their clothes outside for drying. Some one from the battalion saw it and informed me in the battalion headquarters. Through the binoculars I could see the position, worked out the coordinates, informed the guns to prepare the data. I had to wait till afternoon to get more sunlight on the target. At 1500 hours, we engaged the mountain battery with Section Mediums and A Troop. The engagement lasted half an hour and the target was covered with smoke. Exact damage could not be known but the mountain battery never fired from the same position again. Our line of communication was now safe”.

“In June 1948, Brigadier Akbar Khan, Commander 101 Brigade had decided to capture Pandu to straighten out the defences. He asked Lieutenant Colonel Harvey Kelley, Commanding Offices 4/10 Baluch to gather detailed information about enemy strength and disposition. By early July, most of the required information was available through patrolling and minor actions launched by the battalion. Harvey Kelley, a brave and imaginative individual, used to go on patrol himself and gather information to finalise the attack plan. The patrolling programmed launched by the battalion was so aggressive that the enemy was confined to the tops. The slopes and area below was totally controlled by 4/10 Baluch”.

Brigadier Salimullah described various When Kashmir War started, the people of events in detail and narrated how Pandu top Northern Areas also revolted against the was recaptured under Major Sher Bahadur, Dogra ruler and launched jihad to gain who assumed the command of 4/10 Baluch freedom. just before the attack.

Operation in Northern Area

There were only four Muslim Mohammad Khan Jarral was left with officers in Bunji Cantt. One of them, Major Captain Balder Singh. Great tension existed (then Captain) Mohammad Khan Jarral between the Muslims and the non-Muslims. participated in the Seminar. He narrated his Captain Jarral exploited the situation and personal experiences of operations at Astore, spread the rumour that Bunji Cantt. was to Skardu, Dras and Zojila. He was Quarter be attacked by the tribal lashkars. As Master with 6th Azad Kashmir and Jammu expected, majority of the soldiers fled. Battalion, which was deployed at Bunji. According to the plan, the Muslim soldiers When its Commanding Officer Lieutenant returned and captured the entire quantity of Colonel Majid was asked by Governor arms and ammunition. Ghansara Singh to report to Gilgit, he took a Muslim Officer, captain Ehsan with him. Major Mohammad Khan Jarral presented Captain Mirza Hassan had already gone to details of the operations he executed at Gilgit with a company. Thus Captain Parkutta, Thorgo Par, Dras and Zojila.

Legendary Characters

Brigadier Atta Mohammad Khan events, he witnessed during the war and Malik was serving with the 3rd Self- spoke of the high standard of discipline and propellant Unit in 1948. He narrated the morale of the soldiers. He said,

“Brigadier Akbar, known as General Tariq and Lieutenant Colonel Nausherwan, Commanding Officer of 4/16 Punjab had become legends, but no less were the soldiers. Once a Lance Naik, named Mohammad Khan, serving as member of a gun crew, got injured due to enemy shelling. Havildar incharge of the gun asked him to leave the gun. He also tried to help him get up, but the Lance Naik refused to move, saying, “I shall not leave my seat till the Gun Position Officer issues the Stand Easy order.” Having learnt the situation, Section Commander Subedar Noor Mohammad ran to me and told about the incident. I ordered the concerned gun to “Stand Easy”. Only then the NCO left the gun to receive first aid. Medal awarding was not yet in vogue. We managed one of the wrist watches for him donated by Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah during her visit to our sector. He retired as Naib Subedar and still proudly wears the same watch”.

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Brigadier Atta Mohammad Khan case was the second big tragedy for the Malik concluded his speech saying, “to my Pakistan Army. In this conspiracy, we lost mind, after the tragic loss of Major Generals the cream of our officers. Thereafter the Iftikhar Khan and Sher Khan in an aircraft balance was to tilt in favour of yesmen- accident in 1949, Rawalpindi Conspiracy showy and tactful officers.”

The Poonch Episode

When Pakistan came into being, Brigadier Sadiq Satti told him, “Sir, I would Brigadier Sadiq Satti was attending Staff jump with them. It is immaterial whether I College Course at Camberly (England). An survive or die. This is how we live. My Indian General met him there and offered village has decided to join Pakistan. I am him early promotion, if he joined the Indian with them.” Army. In response, Brig Sadiq posed him a question: “Sir, my village is located at a hill After completion of his course, Brig Sadiq top. Do you know what I would do, if the came to Pakistan and was sent to Poonch whole of my clan decides to jump down?” Sector. On arrival there, Brigadier Sadiq The Indian General thought that being an Satti surveyed the situation, recruited educated man, Brig Sadiq should have volunteers, trained them, piled ammunition persuaded his men to refrain from such a and finally surrounded Poonch town. He suicidal action but he was shocked when narrated:

“After three days, the Poonch garrison offered to surrender, communicating this decision to their government. The terms of the surrender were drawn up by me and sent to General Tariq. These included handing over of all military installations and arms to us and withdrawal of Indian troops to Rajauri. Later, General Gracey called and personally asked me if I would allow the wounded Indians to be evacuated by air. I agreed. The first aircraft came, loaded with nurses and doctors. I saw them with the help of binoculars from a distance of five hundred yards. We did not bother the personnel or the aircraft. The second plane, however, began to unload fully-armed troops. I ordered Major Adalat to open fire and we destroyed the aircraft, wounding some of the reinforcements. We kept firing as more aircrafts tried to land. Subsequently they had to retreat. I was accused of violating ceasefire but I maintained that India had violated the ceasefire by reinforcing the garrison after it had surrendered to us. Therefore she invited the attack. After about two weeks I was recalled from Poonch sector. After my return the Indians were allowed to land aircraft under the pretext of evacuating casualties and upon receiving more reinforcements, they were able to enlarge their perimeter and began to advance towards Tolipir.

Brig Sadiq added:

“After forty years Kashmir is up in arms again against repression and for liberation from Hindu domination. The candle of freedom burns in the wax of economic, political, cultural, ethnic and religious repression and once lit, nothing but the achievement of its ultimate goal can extinguish it. The Indian hold over Kashmir is historically artificial and if it is consolidated at all in the future, it would bear counter-relevance to history”.

The veteran officer extended a world of constraints, do not make false promises for advice to the Pakistan government: “if you political gains amongst your own are not able to help the freedom movement constituents” in Kashmir because of international .

A Lesson Learnt

Maj Gen Mohammad Mumtaz Khan had attacks, remains with the occupying force. come from Mansehra to attend the Seminar. No substantial progress can be made at later He was brief in his speech. “During the stages. We should adopt it as a doctrine that Kashmir war I was a subaltern only with two the heights would not be lost at any cost. years of service. The war served to train me. Once withdrawn, it is very difficult to regain The experience gained during the 1948 war them”. was of immerse value in the 1965 and the 1971 wars to officers like me”. After having a break of refreshments the meeting resumed its proceedings. The general described his observations of Nawabzada Dr. Sher Ali was the chief guest. 1948 war. “It has been normally observed He preferred to address the audience soon that while operating in the mountains area, after the break so that they could listen to initial thrust is of utmost importance. him while still afresh. Whatever area is occupied during the initial

Operations Venus

Recalling his memories, Dr. Sher Ali, who delivered on 14th December, 1948 without commanded 14 Para Brigade during receiving the code word from the GHQ. This operation “Venus” said: “Operation Venus was possible only because of through was to be executed in two stages. The stage preparation and excellent coordination one operation was code-named “Venus achieved before the enemy’s harassing Minor” and stage 2 as Venus. The enemy action. On 14th December Pakistan’s punch sensing trouble, re-sorted to intensive air was launched against the area of Berri- attacks and artillery pounding over a wide Pattan Bridge which was the only link on area. The enemy action was likely to Line of Communication with Akhhur. interfere with the launching of operation as Thirty-six hours of intensive artillery planned, therefore the punishment was treatment caused consternation in the Indian

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command, huge dumps blowing up all over massive punishment, which was only the area and Naushera Cantonment itself preliminary action, proved to be a turning. clothed in smoke and dust, was a India was not left with any more taste for bewildering experience for the enemy. The clearing the Azad Area or taking the war whole of Indian front from Poonch to into the Pakistan territory. It was a decisive Naushera seemed to be collapsing. The only action which actually turned the tide of way open to C-IN-C India, Gen Bucher was operation in Kashmir. It was naturally the to launch his armour into Pakistan. Forced last kick the Indians needed to take to by the critical situation, India begged and alternative maneuvering in the diplomatic arranged ceasefire on 1st January, 1949. This field, full baptized in Chanakya’s theorems.

Patel’s Offer

Dr Sher Ali Pataudi also related a historical Nawabzada Sher Ali opined “things might incident. He was asked by Sardar Patel to have been different had Quaid-e-Azam convey a message to Quaid-e-Azam accepted the offer”. suggesting that Pakistan may take Kashmir but stop meddling in Hyderabad. He reached After Dr. Sher Ali, Major Zamir Jaffari was Lahore and met Quaid-e-Azam and invited to read some of his poetry, which he conveyed the message. The Quaid’s answer did after relating his personal impression of was: the Pandu Operation. He was serving with “I don’t believe them. I don’t trust ISPR at that time and was covering the them”. activities of 9 Division in Uri Sector. He had the honour of sending the first dispatch after successful operation of Pandu. He narrated:

“When I reached the top of Pandu feature, I saw the Commanding Officer of the conquering unit standing quietly at a place with tears in his eyes. On enquiry he said that five men of his unit had embraced shahadat at that place and he was thinking that if he had adopted a different approach to reach the target there might have been less casualties”.

Major Zamir Jaafri observed:

“the colonel was sad despite a great victory just because of a few of his men had to sacrifice their lives”.

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Pakistan’s Bold Stand

Hafiz Mohammad Yaqoob Hashmi has the stands true today also. He suggested that honour of having worked with Quaid-e- junior commissioned officers should also be Azam for nine years. He served as Secretary approached for recording their memories of Defence and Education to the Government the Kashmir War. Hafiz Yaqoob Hashmi of Azad Kashmir. Presently he is Vice President of Motamar-e-Alam-e-Islami congratulated the armed forces on Pakistan. While addressing the audience he demonstrating valour and courage in all the emphasized that our attitude about Kashmir three wars: should not be apologetic. Our representative “You never failed, you were successful in in UNO in 1948, while pleading the case of 1948, in 65 and in 1971. You Kashmir, argued that a people had a right to discharged your duties well. It was we, the interfere if the people in their civilians who as civil officers could not take neighbourhood were subjected to tyranny timely decisions or lost everything on and denied their right of self-determination, conference tables while negotiating as specially so if they shared their cultural and politicians”. religious values as well. That argument

Role of Volunteers

Brigadier Gulzar Ahmed is a renowned writer. He commanded a brigade in 1948 in Tetwal Sector. Assessing the performance of the tribal lashkars he said:

“We had thousands of lashkars with us during the Kashmir War but there was no laid-down policy. I had one thousands ‘lashkaris’ in my brigade. They were very disciplined. It was merely a coincidence. The situation was not very comfortable in other sectors. I myself received fifty tribal men at some later stage who created a lot of trouble for me. I had to warn them that they would be arrested and sent back if they did not refrain from undesirable activities.”

Brig. Gulzar was of the view that even in movement. At the time of partition, he was the future the number of our armed forces under training at Jaudhpure Air Force would be less than our possible adversary’s Academy. He opted for Pakistan and came and we would again require the services of to the Risalpur Academy where Air Marshal volunteers. “If we are to face such a (then Wing Commander) Asghar Khan was situation, why not to cater for it during the Commandant. Mr. Khurshid Mir was peace time?” he remarked. asked to “wait till sufficient number of students are available for flying training. Mr. Mr. Khurshid Hassan Mir is known as a Mir was impatient. He resigned and offered politician. He was General Secretary of his services to the Government of Kashmir. Aligarh University Students Union and He was initially appointed a Civil-Liaison played an active role in the Pakistan Officer to evacuate the refugees, but later

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on, through the efforts of Colonel Siddique ceasefire. While evaluating various Raja, got a commission. He commanded a operations, Mr. Khurshid Hassan Mir company for two months before the presented his own assessment. He said:

“No planning was carried out to properly use the tribal lashkars. They were sent there just because Khan Qayyum wanted to be called the ‘Liberator of Kashmir’. The tribesmen damaged the cause of Kashmir by resorting to loot and plunder. They wanted to posses the English bolts and machine guns. They were not trusted. Utmost care was taken in distribution of ammunition. They were given ammunition at the last moments. They deceived Colonel Siddique Raja in the invasion of Jhangar Dharamsal. Having received the ammunition, they cut the telephone lines and slipped away to Jhelum.”

Mr. Mir did not agree with those who hold plebiscite in Kashmir at an pleaded that we should not have accepted international platform. How could we ceasefire in 1948. “India was promising to oppose her and on what grounds”, he asked.

Rejection of Patel’s Offer

Talking Sardar Patel’s offer to Pakistan to 4. Muslims were forcibly driven out of take Kashmir and stop meddling in Naushehra Tehsils, where the ratio of Hyderabad, he termed the rejection of offer population was 50%. by Quaid-e-Azam as just and right. He said that the offer was meaningless because: Under those circumstances, if Sardar Patel had made the offer, it only aimed at 1. India had already grabbed seven gaining time. India was scared of the tehsils where the Muslims were in Nizam’s army and wanted to prolong the majority; stalemate to effectively handle the situation. 2. Maharaja of Kashmir had ordered disarming of Muslim soldiers; With his speech the seminar ended. 3. The Muslims of Jammu were Brigadier Riaz Ullah thanked the audience massacred through Sikh terrorists; and hoped that the speeches would provide necessary material to those who wanted to carry out research on the Kashmir dispute.

PakDef Editor Note: A series of seminars on the Kashmir War of 1948 was sponsored by ISPR during 1990. These seminars provided an opportunity to the veterans of the past wars to recount their valuable experiences, along with various politicians who voiced their opinions on the subject matter. The first seminar was held in Rawalpindi on 30th June 1990, and transcripts of this seminar were published by ISPR in a special publication. These transcripts are being reproduced here for the readers who are interested in learning more about the 1948 Kashmir war and hopefully in coming issues of Pakdef Reporter we will print rest of the seminar.

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Rise of the Falcon: Future of PAF By H Khan with additional contribution by Usman Shabbir

October 1981, will always live in the hearts Pakistan “unlimited number” of F-16s a big and minds of people of Pakistan because debate has started among the military that month Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aviation experts and geo-political experts welcomed Falcon into its family. It has been that if Lockheed Martin F-16, which made more than 23 years since PAF’s first F-16 its median flight on February 2nd, 1974, is Fighting Falcons, also known as Viper, still capable of serving PAF for another 25 landed at Sargodha Air Base. Since the years. There are several legitimate induction of the first 40 F-16 A/B Block 15 questions which do arise and need aircrafts into PAF, this air force has proven comprehensive explanations as to why the without a shadow of any doubt that it F-16 is the best-selling multi-role single- possesses the capability and skills to operate engine fighter available in the market, and this state-of-art fighter aircraft under all why PAF is in “love” with it. The authors circumstances. will try to shed some light on certain aspects of F-16 fighter which are either The fascination with F-16 is not limited to misunderstood or unknown. PAF or the people of Pakistan but most countries which operate F-16 and their As Lockheed Martin (LM) rolled out United adversarial countries. Ever since the daring Arab Emirate Air Force (UAE AF) Block mission performed by Israeli Defense Force/ 60, F-16 E/F “Desert Falcon”, from its plant Air Force over Osirak, Iraq, no doubt at Fort-Worth, Texas, this occasion reflected Lockheed Martin F-16 “Fighting Falcon” or thirty years of experience in a fighter which “Viper” is considered as the best multi-role resembles from the outside likeness of the fighter aircraft for the past 25 years. With an YF-16 of 1974 but this is where the impressive record in both air-to-air and air- similarities end. Although, the Block 60 is to-ground missions and over 4,000 F-16 the most advanced and sophisticated F-16 delivered to at least 24 countries and produced by LM, it was developed under a counting, this superlative fighter has evolved commercial contract between the from a simple light weight fighter (LWF) Government of UAE and Lockheed Martin. into a technological dream fighter. Only five systems on Block 60 are provided Continuous evolution and affordability have by the US government and everything else is been keys to the enduring popularity of the commercial, therefore, a $6.4 billion F-16 in the world fighter aircraft market. It commercial contract was signed between boasts the lowest total ownership costs of UAE and LM in 2000 covering development any fourth-generation fighter, including and production of F-16 Block 60. Interesting costs associated with development, enough, this Block 60 F-16 is the only acquisition, operation and maintenance, and aircraft ever built in the USA has that has upgrades. never worn “stars-and-bars” but roundels of UAE AF, and worn the FAA commercial Since the announcement by the Bush registration numbers while going through Administration that it intends to sell flight testing.

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From the notification to US Congress by (E=Enhanced) with 26,660 lbs trust with Bush Administration it has become clear afterburning engine. Original engines that PAF will be purchasing 18 new F- produced 23,770 lb st reheat but later these 16C/D (C=single seat & D=dual seat) Block engines were upgraded to produce 26,660 52 aircraft with an option of additional 18. lbs. According to Pratt & Whitney, the new The deal is worth 3 billion US dollars if all F100-PW-229 IPE uses technology options are exercised. Separately three other developed from the F119 and F135 engine notifications have also been sent to US programs for the F/A-22 Raptor and F-35 Congress. These notifications are regarding Joint Strike Fighter. The current production supply of 26 refurbished F-16A/B, a Mid- PW-229 incorporates modern turbine Life Update for these 26 aircraft and also for materials, cooling management techniques, 34 F-16A/B currently in PAF service and an compressor aerodynamics and electronic ammunition package for the F-16 fleet. controls. It would be naive of PAF officials to buy F-16 powered with GE engines The ammunition package includes 500 because PAF engineers and technicians are AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM medium-range and very well trained and acquainted with P&W 200 AIM-9M 8/9 short-range air-to-air engines which they have maintained and missiles and also a large quantity of air-to- even upgraded for the past 23 years. The ground Precision Guided Munitions (PGM) infrastructure is already present for the such as 1600 GBU-12/24 and 500 GBU- upkeep of P&W engines and PAF engineers 31/38 kits. Also included are 700 additional and technicians will only need more training GBU kits with BLU-109 warhead. BLU-109 on the new advance P&W engine. was developed by LM to beat the hardened Purchasing P&W powered F-16 will save a and most critical targets of the enemy such tremendous amount of foreign exchange and as underground Command & Control it will not create standardization problems Centers, Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) with the main components of the aircraft. etc. The total value of the ammunition package is listed as $650 million if all With the procurement of new F-16 Block 52 options are exercised. aircrafts PAF has indicated that it also wants to upgrade the current 34 F-16 Block 15 From the official notification to US congress aircrafts under the Common Configuration it is still not clear which exact variant of F- Implementation Program (CCIP) and Mid- 16 will PAF go for – would it be F-16C/D Life Upgrade (MLU). The MLU M3-M5 Block 50 or would it be Block 52? In all upgrade will boost PAF F-16 A/B capability essence there is not a big difference between to the state-of-art technology level Block 50 and 52 except that Block 50 comparable to Block 52 of USAF. incorporates General Electric (GE) F110- GE-128 IPE (Increased Performance The latest Fighting Falcon rolling off the Engine) 29,100 lbs trust with after burning Lockheed Martin production line in Fort turbofan engine, and Block 52 incorporates Worth, Texas carries the generic label of Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 IPE 29,160 Advanced Block 50/52 F-16s. As for the lb with afterburning turbofan engine. PAF’s procurement of the current configuration F- original order of 40 F-16 Block 15 aircrafts 16, there is usually a three-year lead time are powered with one P&W F-100-P-220E from the time the contract is signed and not

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the date on the LOA. Currently, LM is Dutch, Norwegian and Portuguese air producing six (6) F-16 each month but it has forces. It is very likely that 26 used F-16A/B produced many times this number in the will be given to Pakistan under Excessive past. There is excess production capacity Defense Articles (EDA). This would mean available right now at the plant but LM is in that these 26 aircraft will be delivered to no hurry to use it because as per their PAF free of cost and PAF would only have current backlog of orders the last F-16 will to pay for the upgrades. be delivered by the end of 2008. If PAF places an order of by the end of September The notion or argument that current F-16 2006, the first aircraft will not be available can’t be upgraded further in comparison to until 2009-10. In order to overcome this gap fighter aircrafts such as SAAB JAS 39 problem PAF has bought 26 used / stored F- Gripen, Dassault Mirage 2000-9, and 16 until new ones arrives. Mikoyan/ANPK MiG-29SMT fighter aircrafts is unfounded and unsubstantiated. Before this intent to buy 26 used F-16s the The 4,000 plus F-16 sold in the past three PAF has also received two F-16A Block 15 decades is twice the number of combined OCU aircraft from the US (ironically, these sales of three fighter aircraft mentioned were stored Peace Gate III/IV aircraft) to above. There are more than 110 versions of add to its surviving fleet of 22 F-16A Block F-16 flying presently and most of these 15 and 10 F-16B Block 15 fighters. From versions are customized for specific the notifications sent to US Congress it is customers. It is the most sought out fighter clear that PAF now intends to put its F- aircraft available in the market and has lost 16A/B fleet through a 'Falcon Up' structural only two competitions in the recent past. upgrade and then modernize the avionics to There were two cases of split buys, but even bring them to 'MLU' standard, an updated here F-16 competition got the smaller slice version originally intended for the Belgian, of the pie.

4MirageIII: Undated photo of 4 PAF Mirage III EP

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On June 28, 2006, the Defense Security United Technologies Corp, the manufacturer Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified US of Pratt & Whitney engine, an initial order Congress of Foreign Military Sale to of 18 units of F100-PW-229 engines worth Pakistan worth $5.101 billion of F-16 $200 million will be placed, although the aircrafts as well as associated equipment and exact number of F-16 is not yet confirmed, services. After the period of 30 days expired however, there are 7 spare engines involved the deal was approved and the final deal is also.Other distinctive advantages of Block expected to be signed some time in 52+ are: September or early October 2006. Cockpit: It features a helmet-mounted cueing system, color multifunction displays The deal is divided in four different and recording equipment, cockpit lighting packages: and external strip lighting compatible with • $3 billion for 36 F-16 C/D Block night vision goggles, and large-capacity data 52+ along with associated equipment transfer sets. and services Dorsal Avionics Compartment: All • $650 million of weapons for the F- models of the Advanced Block 52 have a 16C/D Block 52+ as Major Defense distinctive dorsal avionics compartment that Equipment (MDE) allows these aircraft to accommodate all of • $1.3 billion for 60 F-16A/B Mid-Life the systems of the single-seat model as well Update Modification (MLU) and as some special mission equipment and Falcon Star Structural Service Life additional chaff/flare dispensers. The rear Enhancement kits as well as cockpit can be configured for either a associated equipment and services weapon system operator or an instructor • $151 million for Engine pilot and can be converted with a single Modifications and Falcon UP/STAR switch in the cockpit. Structural Upgrades as well as associated equipment and services. APG-68(V)9 Radar This is the latest version of Northrop If all options are exercised, this would be the Grumman APG-68 radar, the (V)9 biggest and largest weapon purchase made multimode fire control radar that offers by Pakistan to this date. As with any improved detection range and resolution. military hardware purchase, this purchase is Only the Block 60 aircraft, destined for the not immune from of its critics and UAE, are to be equipped with a more supporters. The following is the break down advanced version – the Active Electronically of most of the critical aspects of this deal: Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The most significant system capability improvement F-16 C/D Block 52+ for the Radar is the addition of Synthetic The first deal worth $3 billion is for 36 F-16 Aperture Radar (SAR). SAR enables high- C/D Block 52+. It involves a firm order of resolution ground mapping for 24-hour, all- 18 aircrafts and option for another 18 weather precision strike capability. The aircrafts, if the option is converted into a APG-68(V)9 offers 30 percent increase in firm order then the deal will be worth $3 detection range, improved search-while- billion. According to an unnamed source at track mode (four vs. two tracked targets) and larger search volume and improved track

while scan performance. It provides Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems increased throughput, with x15 faster (JHMCS) processing speed and x30 growth in memory The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System capacity over the current radars on PAF’s F- (JHMCS) is a modified HGU-55/P helmet 16 Block 15. The (V)9 offers new and that incorporates a visor-projected Heads-Up improved capabilities in both air/air and Display (HUD) to cue weapons and sensors air/ground modes, primarily in the operation to the target. at long range (BVR) and target rich airspace This highly accurate cueing system provides and it has a high resistance to pilots with “First look, First shot” high off- electromagnetic interference and bore sight weapons engagement capabilities. countermeasures and future growth JHMCS enables the pilot to accurately direct potential. It generates imagery-class (2 feet (cue) onboard weapons against enemy resolution) high resolutions pictures, aircraft while performing high-G aircraft comparable to pictures delivered by the most maneuvers. Hands of advantages are: modern commercial satellites. The radar also has increased detection range in sea •Air-to-Air surveillance mode, and enhanced ground •Air-to-Surface moving target identification and mapping • 24-Hour Display/Cueing capability. The radar features an inertial measurement unit that improves dynamic In close combat, a pilot must currently align tracking performance and provides an auto- the aircraft to shoot at a target. JHMCS bore sight capability, which increases accuracy. allows the pilot to simply look at a target to shoot.

AN/ARC-238 SINCGARS with HAVE QUICK I/II

VHF/UHF Radio used in F-16 with HAVE resistible to enemy jamming. It has both QUICK I/II ECCM capabilities which voice and data modes. makes radio communication very highly

Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT)

Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT) are external, persistence as well as reduces the demand pod-like fuel reservoirs are attached on the for tanker support. Range increase is on the upper surface of the F-16’s fuselage, with order of twenty to forty percent, depending the tank’s lower surface conforming to the on the stores configuration and mission aircraft shape. The upper surface profile. “The CFTs have very little adverse arrangement allows the CFTs to be effect on the F-16’s renowned relatively light weight because nothing is performance,” said Maj. Timothy S. suspended from them. The extra fuel McDonald, U.S. Air Force project pilot for increases range, loiter time, and combat CFT testing at Eglin. “A set of CFTs carries

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50 percent more fuel than the centerline The CFT, which can be used in lieu of wing external fuel tank, but has only 12 percent of tanks, free the inner wing store stations and the drag.” The CFTs are designed for the can double the primary air-to-ground full F-16 flight envelope – up to 9 g’s, payload. The tanks have an imperceptible maximum angle of attack and sideslip and effect on the F-16’s agility, handling maximum roll rate. All of these latest F-16s qualities, flight limits, and signature. have structural, plumbing, and wiring Moreover, the tanks do not interfere with provisions for the conformal tanks. The tank daily inspections and servicing, and the set holds 450 gallons (more than 3,000 impact on maintenance access is minimal. A pounds) of additional JP-5/8. The extra fuel complete set can be removed or replaced in increases range, loiter time, and combat two hours by a small crew and a hoist. persistence as well as reduces the demand for tanker support.

Link-16

Link-16 (Multifunctional Information precision guided weapons. Jam-resistant Distribution System-Low Volume Link-16 radios automatically exchange Terminals) is a secure data link system battlefield information - particularly which uses precise time to provide; locations of friendly and enemy aircraft, Communication, Navigation & ships and ground forces - among themselves Identification (CNI). Link 16, military in a long-range, line-of-sight network. For aircraft as well as ships and army units may example, air surveillance tracking data from exchange their tactical picture in real time. an Airborne Warning and Control System Link 16 is defined as one of the digital (AWACS) aircraft can be instantly shared services of the Multifunctional Information with fighter aircraft and air defense units. Distribution System (MIDS) in the More than a dozen countries have installed Standardization Agreement STANAG 5516. Link 16 terminals on over 19 different land, It is a secure, high-speed digital data link. sea, and air platforms, making it an One important added feature of Link-16 is interoperability success story. For example: the digital storage memory bank which An F-16 pilot will be able to see exactly retains all the information shared by all what appears on the Erieye (PAF recently players in warfare arena, therefore, signed a deal to buy 6 or 7 of this system) eliminating the usage of Digital Radio terminals without turning on his radar. Frequency Memory (DRFM) which are used Through this system, a pilot can not only see in advanced integrated defensive electronic up to several hundred miles but also warfare and electronic warfare & distinguish between friends, foes, and his coordination. Link 16 already has all sensors wingman. and shooters platforms in place. It provides The targets can be designated by the Erieye high performance command & control for operator and pilot fires the missile without moving and relocating targets. Its navigation turning on his radar. capability is an adjunct to GPS and built for

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Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare

Recent articles have suggested that the PAF will receive Link 16 for both their F-16 absence of Digital Radio Frequency C/D and MLU F-16 A/B, the need for Memory (DRFM) from the electronic DRFM has no use as briefly explained under warfare suits for the F-16 will make F-16’s Link 16 heading. radar warning receiver (RWR) unable to track or wade off enemies tracking. This is a The four options that PAF can order from wrong perception and holds no truth. Since are the following:

AN/ALQ-184: Self-Protection Jamming Pod manufactured by Raytheon. It’s carried externally. It bamboozles in coming enemy radar-guided missiles. It protects aircraft against radio frequency threats by selectively directing high power jamming against multiple emitters

AN/ALQ-131: This ECM pod is manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It’s also carried externally by F-16, F-15, A-10, C-130, F/A-18, & F-14D. It is capable of producing simultaneous jamming techniques to counter multiple and simultaneous threats on a pulse-by- pulse basis.

AN/ALQ-187: The AN/ALQ-187 is a self-protect electronic countermeasures system. It is fully automatic with internally housed radar warning and chaff/flare systems. It detects and defends the aircraft from surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery and air-to-air missiles. The ALQ- 187 is mounted internally. It is the only fully integrated jammer on the F-16 and can be adapted on other aircrafts.

AN/ALQ-178: The BAE Systems AN/ALQ-178 is an integrated radar warning system and electronic countermeasures suite intended for the F-16 multirole fighter. It can use both passive and active modes. The AN/ALQ-178(V)5+ is the latest development of the ALQ-178 family integrated electronic warfare system. Turkey has ordered 60 systems for its Block 50 F-16 aircraft.

The second package is worth $650 million includes armaments, which are as follows:

500 AIM-120C5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) “SLAMMER”: One of the most advanced, true fire-and- methods of guidance to provide an forget and battle tested beyond-visual-range autonomous launch and leave capability air-to-air missile available in the world. It against single and multiple targets in all has an effective range in excess of 65 miles environments. Also included are 12 with speeds of Mach 4. It employs active, “Slammer’ training missiles and 240 LAU- semi-active, and inertial navigational 129/A Launchers

200 AIM-9M-8/9 SIDEWINDER missiles: The AIM-9 Sidewinder is the world's most 9X. PAF has been using the early versions successful short-range air-to-air missile. The of Sidewinders since 1960 and aside from AIM-9M-9 has expanded infrared counter present order of 200 missiles it order 300 measures detection circuitry making it as the AIM-9M ½ in June of 2005. most advanced Sidewinder apart from AIM-

Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Kits: GBU-31/38 Guided Bomb Unit (GBU) The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is kits; a guidance tail kit that converts existing 1,600 Enhanced-GBU-12/24 GBUs; 800 unguided free-fall bombs into accurate, MK-82 500 pound General Purpose (GP) adverse weather "smart" munitions. With the and MK-84 2,000 pound GP bombs; and addition of a new tail section that contains 700 BLU-109 2,000 pound with FMU-143 an inertial navigational system and a global Fuze. positioning system guidance control unit, JDAM improves the accuracy of unguided, The worth of the third part of the package general purpose bombs in any weather could be as high as $1.3 billion. This condition. JDAM is a guided air-to-surface includes the sale of 60 F-16A/B Mid-Life weapon that uses the 2,000-pound BLU- Update (MLU) modification and Falcon Star 109/MK 84, the 1,000-pound BLU-110/MK Structural Service Life Enhancement kits. It 83 or the 500-pound BLU-111/MK 82 should be pointed out that PAF already has warhead as the payload. JDAM enables 34 F-16 A/B (includes 2 F-16 delivered in employment of accurate air-to-surface December of 2005 via EDA) in its inventory weapons against high priority fixed and and it intends to receive 26 A/B via relocatable targets from fighter and bomber Excessive Defense Articles (EDA). aircraft. The range of guided munitions is According to sources, these 26 F-16 will be approximately 18 miles and can be launched the same F-16 which were unjustifiably from 30,000 feet plus. embargoed by the Bush I and Clinton Administrations. Other related munition includes 500 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Guidance

F-16 A/B Block 15: PAF has to acquire 26 more F-16 via EDA to bring the number of A/B to 60 units. All A/B Block 15 are equipped with F100-PW-220E engines and under a separate package these engines will be upgraded.

Mid-Life Update (MLU): 60 F-16A/B Mid-Life Update (MLU) Modification & Falcon Star Structural Service Life Enhancement kits as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $1.3 billion.

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MLU involves turning A and B model F-16s with night-vision systems. MLU will also into the equivalent of the latest C and D have provisions for microwave landing models. The MLU upgrade takes on the systems and helmet-mounted displays. It has average 2,500 work hours per aircraft to over 180 times the memory. An improved perform. Lt. Col. Herman Koolstra of the version of the APG-66 radar in the Block Royal Netherlands Air Force said "I am very 15, the APG-66(V2), has many new happy with the aircraft," he says. "The MLU features, including increased detection and F-16 is a great step forward for our air force. tracking ranges and the ability to track more targets. The biggest improvement with MLU It boosts our capability to the state of the art, to the pilot is the radar and the improved comparable to a Block 50 F-16 flown by AMRAAM (Slammers) capability that goes USAF." These F-16s also have an improved along with it. The OCU F-16 Block 30/40 data modem, a ring laser inertial navigation can launch and guide only one AMRAAM system, a miniaturized global positioning (Slammers) at a time. The MLU F-16s can system, a digital terrain system, an advanced launch multiple AMRAAMs (Slammers) interrogator for identifying friendly aircraft, and guide them at longer ranges with an wide-angle head-up display, color improved version of the APG-66, called the multifunction cockpit displays, up-front APG-66(V)2.Other items which are part of controls (a set of programmable pushbuttons the MLU contract are as follows: placed just below the head-up display), and Block 52-style sidestick and throttle controllers. Cockpit lighting is compatible

• APG-68(V)9 with Synthetic Aperture Radar or APG-66(V)2 radar • Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS) • AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe Systems • AN/ALE-47 Advanced Countermeasures Dispenser Systems • Have Quick I/II Radios • Link-16 • SNIPER (formerly known as AN/AAQ-33 PANTERA) targeting pod capability: Lockheed Martin Sniper XR/Pantera targeting pod that is mounted on the right inlet sensor station. In conjunction with laser-guided bombs, the pod provides day/night precision strikes from high altitudes. Among other uses, the targeting systems can be used for seeker cueing of a variety of guided weapons and covert air-to-air operations. • Reconnaissance pod capability • Advanced Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation Units (AACMI) • 60 units of ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management Systems. • 10 APG-68(V)9 spare radar sets. • AGM-84 Harpoon compatible for anti-ship missions.

The Government of Pakistan has requested a Lockheed Martin considers the new Block possible sale for modification/overhaul of 14 52+ F-16 to be a 4+ generation aircraft. F100-PW-220E engines, 14 Falcon With the induction of Block 52+ and MLU UP/STAR F-16 structural upgrade kits, de- F-16, PAF will regain the much needed modification and preparation of 26 aircraft, technological parity against any of its support equipment, software neighbors, therefore, acting as tool of equity development/integration, modification kits, in the region. It should be noted that PAF spares and repair parts, flight test still needs to continue its programs with instrumentation, publications and technical maximum throttle of acquiring JF-17, FC-20 documentation, personnel training and (J-10), and Erieye because these F-16 are training equipment, U.S. Government and not at all enough to safeguard the airspace of contractor Pakistan. technical and logistics personnel services, and other related requirements to support the program. The estimated cost is $151 million.