Asma Ishaq

Befittingly acknowledged and hailed for an impeccable professionalism, Pakistan Air Force stays ‘active in action’ throughout the year. It never sleeps in the real! From defending the country’s aerial frontiers, signing agreements in improving ‘the further excellence’ for cutting-edge aircraft technology likewise setting up the first ‘state-of-the-art’ Cyber/Information Technology and Aerospace cluster projects like NASTP, Artificial Intelligence next in building the industry and academia or lest not forget for helping in any kind of humanitarian cause: inland or abroad, this is our Pakistan Air Force-indeed the Nation’s Pride.

Recently, couple of attention grabbing videos have been released by the Directorate General Public Relations to fascinate the interest for an ongoing PAF’s Indus Shield 2024. A mega kind of multinational exercise with a well-intentioned participation of 24 Air Forces led by Pakistan Air Force, a hugely admirable effort from Aerospace Power Center of Excellence. This top-notch and well-planned exercise commenced in the first week of October 2024 at two PAF operational Air Bases, at PAF Base Mushaf and PAF Base Rafiqui simultaneously. This Indus Shield 2024 has proven to be the next-success-story of PAF after the much commendable execution of Indus Shield 2023. The ongoing Indus Shield 2024 has involved the participants in exercise from all parts of the globe ranging from Asia, Gulf, Europe and Africa,

The CAS’ Vision: The Zenith of Indus Shield 2024.

The Indus Shield 2024 has now become an acute physical demonstration of the CAS’s vision. It testifies the able-guidance of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu NI (M) conveyed via his directives at various occasions to meet the unparalleled standards of professionalism that he maintains for PAF. In his inaugural address, the CAS underscored,

“The ongoing exercise Indus Shield-2024 will go a long way in bolstering interoperability amongst the participating nations and will train their air and ground crews to face contemporary warfare challenges. I fully entrust PAF for leading the camaraderie in this regard.”

The CAS has also shared about the par-excellence of Aerospace Power Center of Excellence,

“Aerospace Power Center of Excellence has been revamped incorporating niche technologies and Hi-Tech training facilities to undertake multi domain operations keeping abreast with contemporary warfare parameters. The initiative ensures that the center remains attuned to contemporary warfare dynamics while also offering training through state-of-the-art facilities to the friendly nations, embodying the principles that we are, ‘Stronger When Together.”

The Worthy Participating 24 Air Forces.

Indus Shield-2024 has brought together all the elite Air Forces from 24 countries. It serves as a single platform in the region to showcase their professional prowess. It is a versatile participation where it engages air forces from Asia, Gulf, Europe and Africa. This diverse participation embodying the collaborative spirit that is the exercise motto-‘Stronger When Together.’

The 24 Air Forces Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Tanzania, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, Zimbabwe and Qatar.

Group Captain Muhammad Asif Bhatti from PAF speaks,

“This exercise is unique in nature where we have 24 nations that are participating in this exercise and how it makes it different than other exercises that we undertake in the region and what makes it the biggest exercise is that it is not only that we are participating in the kinetic form that is the fighter and force multipliers but there are other domains which we think are essential for the conduct of operations in the future warfare.”

Adhering to the brilliance of Aerospace Power Center of Excellence, Maj Gen Lancelot Mathebula from South Africa speaks,

“My experience within this training center I do believe is the next level. It reaches to not every fighter pilot but every air force’s dream to make it sure that we can have multi-domain warfare training which is what any other country would like and I would like to commend the country itself as well as the defence force of Pakistan as well as the Pakistani Air Force for such a vision and the fact that it is an indigenous system that they have means that they have a continuous vision to make sure that they can protect and defend the country.”

Col Khaled Ezzat speaks,

“It is my first time here in Pakistan and I enjoy this exercise and being the part of it is quite a big opportunity in such good environment. Of course, to share this exercise with multinational forces with different platforms, air crafts using the modern and new weaponry system.”

From Bahrain Col Rashid Khamees Al Ziyani shares,

“To speak about my visit to airspace center, it is an amazing set up amended by amazing people.”

Galvanizing Interoperability Among 24 Air Forces.

Pakistan Air Force has always been able to keeping a sophisticated position in serving the country. This position itself evidences the PAF’s aerial prowess in the region. Nonetheless, PAF’s remarkable position has also been a pivotal factor in upholding deterrence in the region. Now, PAF’s coming up with a mega exercise indorses an invaluable learning experience for all the 24 Air Forces involved in it. The exercise offers a unique opportunity for participating air forces to bring their skills and operational capabilities to the spotlight. All this to accentuate the interoperability among 24 air forces to achieve shared objectives and addresses the evolving dynamics of aerial warfare in the face of common security threats. It is exactly like, all under one sky as it is said all under one roof.

The Aspects Of Exercise Indus Shield 2024:

With the core objectives of military cooperation, fostering strategic partnership, and strengthening brotherly bonds, Indus Shield 2024 focusses on simulating various military tactics to maximize the war fighting potential of participating air forces through integrated training environment. The exercise involves complex air warfare scenarios and simulations designed to improve the aerial combat. The participants have got themselves in a near-realistic scenario of aerial warfare that replicates the real combat conditions including Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground combat tactics. Moreover, deploying lethal and long range surface air vectors through unmanned force to manned and unmanned teaming kinetic and non-kinetic roles. It is a step forward to AI enabled warfare. Moreover, it is to augment the PAF’s Cyber Force Application and PAF’s Space Force Application in unison with counter operations. Last, this exercise includes the counter terrorism training modules. All in all, Indus Shield provides a vital learning experience to the air and ground crews both.

Folding The Wings But For Another Flight:

While the Indus Shield 2024 has folded its wing for another time to take the flight, this definitely has gone adding another impressive episode for PAF. Undeniably, PAF has proven to be successful in attaining the attention of international community. Consequently, PAF continues to become the center of global focus for honing the modern air-combating tactics. Soon again, the PAF intends to stretch its powerful wings to strengthening the interoperability for fostering the greater understanding and collaboration in the realm of aerial defence. The Indus Shield 2024 has consolidated Pakistan Air Force’s dedication to its mission of safeguarding Pakistan’s airspace along with promoting interoperability amongst the participating air forces in the face of mutually shared challenges.

-Asma Ishaq teaches English Language and English Literature to senior classes.

She is also Subject Coordinator, English.