ISLAMABAD, MAY 8 /DNA/ – The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) organised a ceremony on 7 May 2026 to commemorate Pakistan’s resolute response to unprovoked Indian aggression and the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) measured yet effective retaliation against the Indian Air Force (IAF) starting the night of 6-7 to 10th May 2025, under the banner of Marka-e-Haq. As an independent think tank, CASS regularly convenes such forums to advance informed policy discourse among academia and practitioners.
In his address, Senior Research Associate Muhammad Faizan Fakhar highlighted the rise of Hindutva ideology under Narendra Modi and its destabilising impact on regional peace. Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, Line of Control (LoC) violations, and India’s attempts to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, he stated that Pakistan debunked the myth of Indian military supremacy in 2019 and again in 2025 by successfully countering unprovoked aggression. He reaffirmed that Pakistan seeks peace but remains prepared to defend its sovereignty without compromise.
Speaking at the occasion, Director CASS, Air Marshal Hamid Rashid Randhawa (Retd) , reflected on the history and evolution of the PAF since independence. He highlighted the enduring legacy of PAF personnel in the 1965 and 1971 wars, as well as during the Afghan conflict, which, he noted, was reaffirmed during Operation Swift Retort and the May 2025 PAF-IAF confrontation. He observed that the PAF had transformed from a severely disadvantaged force at the time of Partition — inheriting only 16 fighter aircraft and 24 bombers, many of which were unserviceable — into a technologically advanced and operationally capable force that demonstrated its effectiveness during the 2025 conflict.
In his concluding remarks, President CASS, Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed (Retd) , paid tribute to the martyrs of the four-day conflict and the PAF personnel who sacrificed their lives. He underscored the importance of self-reliance in modern warfare, referring to lessons emerging from the recent Iran–Israel conflict. He remarked that Pakistan’s growing indigenous capabilities enabled it to effectively counter the numerically superior IAF, the fourth largest air force in the world.
Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed attributed the PAF’s success and international prestige to the strength of faith, professionalism, a merit-driven institutional culture, and leadership of the force. He also highlighted the role played by CASS since its establishment in 2019 in contributing to strategic discourse on emerging conflicts. He concluded by noting that as warfare increasingly becomes air-centric, the role of CASS has become more important than ever.
