By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Air Chief Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has said purchase of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) by India has triggered a new arms race in the region.
“Pakistan will also have the AWACS in September this year,” he told newsmen at Risalpur.
He said Pakistan is also acquiring F-16s and latest technology including five hundred beyond visual range (BVR) missiles from the US.
Responding to a question, the Air Chief Marshal said Pakistan has the capability to shoot down drones and referred to the shooting down of Indian surveillance plane in 2002.
He said if Pakistan shoots down US drone aircraft, the Americans will send squad of fighter planes the very next day.
“Pak army cannot take the initiative of war against the US and Nato countries and it is the duty of the government and parliament to take this decision”.
Talking to media, he said, “We do have the technology of shooting down the drone planes, previously we shot down a spy plane without pilot of India, but now before doing this we have to keep an eye on the upcoming results of our acts”.
He said Pakistan Air Force is supporting the military in its ongoing operation in Swat and Malakand division.
He added air force has destroyed several hideouts and caches of ammunitions of militants, paving the way for the ground forces to make advances in Swat.
He concluded that Pakistan Air force is fully capable to cope with any internal or external threat.