Pakistan-India Conflict 2025: News Updates and Discussion

[Bratva]

French commander confirms Pakistan's air superiority in May 2025 combat with India​

Captain Launay claims Rafale fighter shot down not due to technological superiority of Chinese J-10 C fighters​

By
Hamid Mir
|
November 21, 2025

French commander Captain Jaquis Launay. — Geo News
PARIS: A French naval commander has confirmed that Indian Rafale fighter jets were shot down during May 2025 air combat with Pakistan, attributing the outcome not to the technological superiority of Chinese J-10C fighters but to Pakistan’s better handling of the battle situation.

Captain Jacques Launay, commander of the Naval Air Base at Landivisiau, told delegates at an international Indo-Pacific conference that the Pakistan Air Force was “much better prepared” when more than 140 fighter jets faced each other in the air during the night of May 6-7, 2025.

“It was a very complicated situation in which more than 140 fighter jets were involved. It was very easy to hit an aircraft because a large number of targets were available to both sides. Pakistan handled that complicated situation better than its adversary,” Captain Launay said during a briefing at his base.

The commander made these revelations while speaking to 55 delegates from 32 countries at the Indo-Pacific conference organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies in National Defence (IHEDN) in collaboration with the Directorate of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Rafale fighter jet taxis on the tarmac during its induction ceremony at an air force station in Ambala, India, September 10, 2020. — Reuters

Radar issues, not technical inferiority​

Addressing why Rafale’s radar system failed to perform properly during combat, Captain Launay said the issue was operational rather than technical. “There was nothing wrong with the war machine, but the machine was not used properly,” he explained, adding that “Rafale can compete and defeat the Chinese J-10C in any combat situation.”

When an Indian delegate interrupted, claiming the reports were “Chinese disinformation” and no Rafale was shot down, Captain Launay ignored the remarks and continued his analysis.

Captain Launay has been flying Rafales for 25 years and supervises operations at a base with more than 40 nuclear-armed Rafales, 94 naval warships, 10 nuclear submarines, and 190 aircraft. He has participated in operations from the Middle East to Africa and Europe, and was recently part of a nuclear missile test.

Armed forces worldwide have conducted studies about the India-Pakistan air combat to gain insights for future conflicts, viewing it as a rare opportunity to examine the performance of pilots, fighter jets, and air-to-air missiles in active combat.

The Indian government has never accepted that its fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan, but confirmations continue to emerge from different parts of the world.

India pursues nuclear-capable naval Rafales despite setback​

Captain Launay disclosed that India was now interested in purchasing the naval version of Rafales capable of landing on aircraft carriers. Crucially, these naval Rafales can carry nuclear missiles, with the French Navy being the only force in the world that can deploy nuclear missiles from an aircraft carrier.

Indian pilots are expected to receive training at Captain Launay’s Landivisiau Naval Air Base, the same facility where he recently participated in a nuclear missile test. The base houses a squadron of more than 40 Rafales armed with nuclear missiles and serves as France’s primary training centre for nuclear-capable naval aviation.

Captain Launay emphasised that Rafales remain among the best fighter aircraft in the world and that France is developing an advanced F-4 version.

Captain Launay appreciated the leadership of both India and Pakistan for avoiding a full-scale war in a difficult situation, stating, “We want peace, but we are prepared to face any attack from any side.”

There was a glaring imbalance in regional representation at the conference. While India sent multiple delegates to the 55-member gathering from 32 countries, Pakistan was represented by one senior journalist. This disparity in presence stood out, given that the May 2025 air combat between the two nations was a central topic of military analysis at the conference.

---

It is important to mention that this writer reported the remarks and published the pictures of Captain Launay after taking permission from him.

---

Hamid Mir is a journalist and TV anchor associated with Geo News and participated in the Indo-Pacific conference in France as a war correspondent and security expert.

 

[DAVIDBENGURION]

DAVIDBENGURION said:
In regards to Mount Kailash, we Indians are happy with its place and that china protects its sanctity, we don't yearn or claim that our sky god ascended to heaven at that place, so we will gladly kill ourselves and destroy our future in a vain attempt to obtain it like Jerusalem or Kashmir
Some points to consider:

1. The Chinese don't care about sanctity. They do care about hygiene and sanitation that is why the water of Lake Mansarovar is used for ablutions and wash rooms ( which by the way are located in the crew quarters at various levels on the mountain itself).
2. Israel cares about sanctity of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, that is why it abides by the UN World Heritage rules, and so far no mobs of hundreds of thousands of screaming half naked savages waiving tridents, pickaxes and hammers have descended on the Temple Mount to demolish the structures there and build the Third Temple of Solomon. Israel's own judiciary and world opinion matters to Israel, at least so far as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is concerned. That also holds true for the other 400 mosques in Israel, AND the 73 additional mosques located in Jerusalem. The bulldozers haven't reached them yet. But then there is no Yogi Bear over there ( nice rhyme).

Again, I don't understand this blabbering about mount Kailash, or how it suddenly crept into this Indo pak scenario...I understand your pain regarding Jerusalem but there's nothing one can do about it when Israel has the power of ark of covenant..ahem nuclear weapons with it.. I guess everyone has to accept their control over the Temple Mount.

 

[DAVIDBENGURION]

LOL - living in the past again? Pakistan is not fighting India anymore, the reality is the other way around post Kargil.

Since Pakistan has more or less reached the same level as India when it comes to Military for all practical purposes, and can now progress to improve its economy and resolve internal problems - which India perceives as threat to its regional hegemonic ambitions is the reason it has becomie more aggressive towards Pakistan so that it remains economically and socio-politically unstable.

However, this perceived insecurity is India's biggest pitfall - and if you don't understand why is that then let's just hope you don't have to find it out in your lifetime.

I mean if you really think Pakistan's leadership will be focussing towards economic development instead of military, you haven't been looking at the past 70 years my friend. The first thing they do after the may clashes was promote themselves and cover themselves with immunity. To be fair, there's isn't a lot the Pakistani military can do when confronting a behemoth like India, either they maintain military parity and cripple their economy, or they concentrate on economy and loose the military parity, it aint so simple like "Pakistan has more or less reached the same level as India when it comes to Military for all practical purposes, and can now progress to improve its economy and resolve internal problems".. its one or the other.

 

[DAVIDBENGURION]

Not emotional just facts:
In its quest to establish a theocratic state rather than a secular one the religious fundamentalists in your country rejected a secular constitution and Federal political structure envisioned after independence and your country broke into three pieces in 1947 . This was not what Doctorji K.B . Hedgewar had envisioned when he launched his movement for a "foreigner (mlech) free theocratic India" in 1925. The centenary of that event was recently "celebrated" in India but it is a pity that Dr. Hedgewar ( who died in 1940) didn't live to see what the effects of his movement had wrought. In disappointment Doctorji's protege Nathuram Godse assassinated Mr. Mohandas Karamchand and after he was hanged his ashes in Pune are awaiting immersion in the Atok and Indus rivers.
On our poverty:
We said we would "eat grass " to go nuclear and we did. As non-vegetarians we value our freedom to eat what we want without getting lynched.

its way out of topic and I would refrain from commenting on the theocratic or secular framework of both nations,, but understand this,, in India whatever may be our flaws any person whatever his religion may be or even atheist can reach the highest offices of the land and did reach our highest offices,, whereas in Pakistan only a person of a certain religion can become president or prime minister and people from other minorities are barred from these offices...does that mean they are lesser citizens or not considered loyal enough or somewhat inferior?? just a food for thought!!! so the when it comes to secular or theocratic framework, both countries aren't even in the same ball park.

 

[DAVIDBENGURION]

Firstly don't mention IAF, they can't even perform over plains let alone up in the mountains. Secondly, the service ceiling for Shahpar-III and Akinci is > 35,000 ft. Thirdly, ever heard of "density altitude"? - the colder air above Siachen makes the air more dense so practically making a UCAV flight as if it was flying at a lower altitude. True the real world doesn't work like that, it's why please step back into the reality and understand the Operational Physics rather than quoting "IAF problems" - for reference read on the rescue operation of Scott Fischer (even PA Aviation can fly better than IAF) - and I don't know why you keep mentioning "full payload" capacity when it's not going to strike a "whole compound" but smaller and less sturdy military posts. Again, come back into reality because that's the only thing you have understood correct so far.



Yes, and I didn't mention that as an imminent scenario rather as a hypothetical one against your idea of "Pakistan assaulting Siachen in future" - because that would be a military suicide and the more "realistic" and "strategically" better action would be to rather move deeper into the Ladakh Valley (if at all it comes to that) - you would have understood the mention of Pak/China hypothetical joint action had you first understood why India historically considers Siachen important (I'm still waiting for you to explain that importance and then weigh it against the present day importance)



And I'll ask again are downward sloping ridges only on Pakistan's side? Is the Rear HQ for Indian deployment in Siachen at a higher ground than the deployment itself? Is Siachen flanked by Saltoro Ridge on the South and South West? Does an avalanche run down in it's local saddle or fly over the peak of adjacent mountain? Please understand the topography of the area first before mentioning Pakistan's positions on the lower ridges? Does the Indian side only hosts a wall of ice with no lower ridges or foothills where the Rear Command Centers are located?



Haha - "it is nothing but it is also everything" = "I have no idea what I'm talking about and my ChatGPT daily limit has been reached"

Pakistan doesn't have to launch any strike on Siachen, it has lost it's historical Strategic/Tactical value. The high ground advantage is mainly for defensive positions and India can keep it because it can't launch any offensive from that area anymore. Also, why do you keep mentioning peace settlement? Isn't your leadership beating the drums of total annihilation and conquest of Pakistan?

Again, I have mentioned from real world scenarios of IAF experience over Kargil while you are quoting the UCAV's stats from wiki,,, I wonder who uses the ChatGPT between us...without a full payload capacity the so called drone strikes will be not effective or more sorties have to be conducted.. and the drones by virtue of their inferior power will be sitting ducks at that altitudes and slowpeeds.. we all read what happened to general anwari's heli when he was conducting operations over the battlefield,, it aint simply feasible.

But then again, this scenarios aint gonna happen as we both know Pakistani commanders have already tried all these scenarios over the past 3 decades but the formidable heights prevent these attempts.

In regards to your insistence on strategic value of Siachen heights, I aint gonna say they give a strategic advantage and that they somehow cut Pakistan and Chinese access , because they don't. They are a strategic asset because they are controlled by us and we would rather have them under our control than Pakistani control,, simple as that... and pakistani DGMO's simply can't seem to control the urge to launch futile attempts to push Indians outside of Siachen,, so we are happy to oblige them..

They also serve as a reminder to the Indian armed forces heroics and success and serve as a morale upper hand over the opposing side...just like Pakistan takes pride in its successes at 48 war, or its airforces strikes in 65 war,, these victories at Siachen or Kargil instil a sense of elan and moral ascendancy to the armed forces.

 

[Baibers_1260]

@DAVIDBENGURION said:

"but understand this,, in India whatever may be our flaws any person whatever his religion may be or even atheist can reach the highest offices of the land and did reach our highest offices"
Reaching the "highest office of the land" does nothing for the status and respect for any person who is damned from birth in your system. The elected Chief Minister of your second most populous state has a different experience. ( similar to your ex-Defense Minster, the so called "hero of the 1971 war" )
For the record we in Pakistan believe no humans are damned from birth as untouchable.

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/indian-temple-purified-after-low-caste-chief-minister-visits-idUSKCN0HP1DD/

Indian temple 'purified' after low-caste chief minister visits​

By Thomson Reuters Foundation Correspondent
September 30, 20149:10 AM EDTUpdated September 30, 2014

PATNA India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The government in India's northern state of Bihar has ordered an investigation after reports that a Hindu temple was cleaned and its idols washed after a visit by the state's chief minister, who belongs to a lower caste community.

 

[DAVIDBENGURION]

Banya talk ( Sigh) : In regards to maintaining control over "ice and rock" let me remind you that with a per capita GDP of one quarter of Mexico, India is facing an adversary China whose 2024 GDP at approximately $18.74 trillion is 4.76 times larger compared to India's $3.91 trillion. Consequently, China's GDP per capita is also much higher, at about $13,303.1 in 2024 versus India's $2,696.7. The costs of maintaining control of the heights around Pangong Lake began to pinch which is why India chose to accept the 1959 LAC proposed by China at the 2021 Moscow summit which raises a moot point why the 1962 conflict in that area ( Arunachal Zhangan is a different issue) was fought in the first place. Maybe Indian EAM "Laser Eyes" Jai Shankar can explain. Maybe the money could be better spent to address the malnourished 800 million population subsisting on $3.24 per day.

With a "100:1" advantage over Pakistan India can continue to maintain its troops on "ice and rocks" , even as the lines of communication between China and Pakistan ACROSS bits of " Indian ice and rock" are solidified and strengthened and remain secure. Any attempt by India to disrupt that "ice and rock" road will result in a much severer punishment than being dinked on the head with barbed wire laced clubs,

Hate to get ecclesiastical but one piece of sacred "ice and rock " an "abode" known as Mount Kailash has never been attempted to be recovered despite being defiled by the PLA installations of radar and Surface to Air missile defense assets, along with crew quarters fully equipped with heated toilets. This against the sentiments of 1.4 billion Indian citizens.

Again, you are speaking of other countries, while we speak of India and Pakistan. pangong lake, Moscow summit, toilets mount Kailash bla bla bla ,, can Pakistanis only name china or toilets and irrelevant topics when discussing about our both countries. Is it all you can name,,, does Pakistan not have its own successes rather than take pride in Chinese ones??. I will make it even more simple and cut the chase.. think about it in our 70 year history (not 800 year old or 3500 year old ahemmm like many speak about),, no Indian states have seceded and we have around 30 states and 3 different major religions. While Pakistanis being bounded by a more unified religion and smaller population couldn't stay unified and broke in two..Was that because we Indians are superior to Pakistanis?? lol no.. we are simply a bigger opponent and can take a lot more punishment and can put lot more boots on the ground. Pakistan has run dry and has crippled itself trying to fight us. In trying to get Kashmir, they lost their other half.

 

[DAVIDBENGURION]

@DAVIDBENGURION said:

"but understand this,, in India whatever may be our flaws any person whatever his religion may be or even atheist can reach the highest offices of the land and did reach our highest offices"
Reaching the "highest office of the land" does nothing for the status and respect for any person who is damned from birth in your system. The elected Chief Minister of your second most populous state has a different experience. ( similar to your ex-Defense Minster, the so called "hero of the 1971 war" )
For the record we in Pakistan believe no humans are damned from birth as untouchable.

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/indian-temple-purified-after-low-caste-chief-minister-visits-idUSKCN0HP1DD/

Indian temple 'purified' after low-caste chief minister visits​

By Thomson Reuters Foundation Correspondent
September 30, 20149:10 AM EDTUpdated September 30, 2014

PATNA India (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The government in India's northern state of Bihar has ordered an investigation after reports that a Hindu temple was cleaned and its idols washed after a visit by the state's chief minister, who belongs to a lower caste community.

so why the segregation against minorities to attain these offices?? are they not Pakistanis or lesser men?? One needs to look upon himself when accusing others

 

[Baadil]

The constant attempt to drag Chinese military or its economy when discussing India Pakistan conflicts is certainly amusing.

Says “David Ben Gurion”

 

[Baibers_1260]

Again, you are speaking of other countries, while we speak of India and Pakistan. pangong lake, Moscow summit, toilets mount Kailash bla bla bla ,, can Pakistanis only name china or toilets and irrelevant topics when discussing about our both countries. Is it all you can name,,, does Pakistan not have its own successes rather than take pride in Chinese ones??. I will make it even more simple and cut the chase.. think about it in our 70 year history (not 800 year old or 3500 year old ahemmm like many speak about),, no Indian states have seceded and we have around 30 states and 3 different major religions. While Pakistanis being bounded by a more unified religion and smaller population couldn't stay unified and broke in two..Was that because we Indians are superior to Pakistanis?? lol no.. we are simply a bigger opponent and can take a lot more punishment and can put lot more boots on the ground. Pakistan has run dry and has crippled itself trying to fight us. In trying to get Kashmir, they lost their other half.

Pakistan is under constant assault from a vicious fascist savage regime for 78 years and has survived.
That is our success.

Pakistan is 7 times smaller country than its enemy, yet havs built a military and economic alliance with the second most powerful country in the world ,China ; and has a good measure of support from the USA which is the most powerful country in the world . Powerful countries won't support a "crippled failed state " in an endless war with a powerful neighboring adversary. But our alliances are holding because our integrity and courage is recognized and valued. With the support of our allies we have held our most vicious enemy in check and off balance, and will continue to impose a cost on the aggressor.
Blunting the aggression from a vicious savage entity with a medieval religiously fundamentalist mindset is our top priority which we have achieved

That is our success ! That is what we are proud of.

Other smaller nations in the neighborhood are looking at us and following the same path, building similar alliances with us to defeat Indian aggression and hegemony.

That is our success !

 

[Corax]

so why the segregation against minorities to attain these offices?? are they not Pakistanis or lesser men?? One needs to look upon himself when accusing others

If you're so proud to be indian, why worship the Jews so much with a name like yours?

 

[Dalit]

French commander confirms Pakistan's air superiority in May 2025 combat with India​

Captain Launay claims Rafale fighter shot down not due to technological superiority of Chinese J-10 C fighters​

By
Hamid Mir
|
November 21, 2025

French commander Captain Jaquis Launay. — Geo News
PARIS: A French naval commander has confirmed that Indian Rafale fighter jets were shot down during May 2025 air combat with Pakistan, attributing the outcome not to the technological superiority of Chinese J-10C fighters but to Pakistan’s better handling of the battle situation.

Captain Jacques Launay, commander of the Naval Air Base at Landivisiau, told delegates at an international Indo-Pacific conference that the Pakistan Air Force was “much better prepared” when more than 140 fighter jets faced each other in the air during the night of May 6-7, 2025.

“It was a very complicated situation in which more than 140 fighter jets were involved. It was very easy to hit an aircraft because a large number of targets were available to both sides. Pakistan handled that complicated situation better than its adversary,” Captain Launay said during a briefing at his base.

The commander made these revelations while speaking to 55 delegates from 32 countries at the Indo-Pacific conference organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies in National Defence (IHEDN) in collaboration with the Directorate of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Rafale fighter jet taxis on the tarmac during its induction ceremony at an air force station in Ambala, India, September 10, 2020. — Reuters

Radar issues, not technical inferiority​

Addressing why Rafale’s radar system failed to perform properly during combat, Captain Launay said the issue was operational rather than technical. “There was nothing wrong with the war machine, but the machine was not used properly,” he explained, adding that “Rafale can compete and defeat the Chinese J-10C in any combat situation.”

When an Indian delegate interrupted, claiming the reports were “Chinese disinformation” and no Rafale was shot down, Captain Launay ignored the remarks and continued his analysis.

Captain Launay has been flying Rafales for 25 years and supervises operations at a base with more than 40 nuclear-armed Rafales, 94 naval warships, 10 nuclear submarines, and 190 aircraft. He has participated in operations from the Middle East to Africa and Europe, and was recently part of a nuclear missile test.

Armed forces worldwide have conducted studies about the India-Pakistan air combat to gain insights for future conflicts, viewing it as a rare opportunity to examine the performance of pilots, fighter jets, and air-to-air missiles in active combat.

The Indian government has never accepted that its fighter jets were shot down by Pakistan, but confirmations continue to emerge from different parts of the world.

India pursues nuclear-capable naval Rafales despite setback​

Captain Launay disclosed that India was now interested in purchasing the naval version of Rafales capable of landing on aircraft carriers. Crucially, these naval Rafales can carry nuclear missiles, with the French Navy being the only force in the world that can deploy nuclear missiles from an aircraft carrier.

Indian pilots are expected to receive training at Captain Launay’s Landivisiau Naval Air Base, the same facility where he recently participated in a nuclear missile test. The base houses a squadron of more than 40 Rafales armed with nuclear missiles and serves as France’s primary training centre for nuclear-capable naval aviation.

Captain Launay emphasised that Rafales remain among the best fighter aircraft in the world and that France is developing an advanced F-4 version.

Captain Launay appreciated the leadership of both India and Pakistan for avoiding a full-scale war in a difficult situation, stating, “We want peace, but we are prepared to face any attack from any side.”

There was a glaring imbalance in regional representation at the conference. While India sent multiple delegates to the 55-member gathering from 32 countries, Pakistan was represented by one senior journalist. This disparity in presence stood out, given that the May 2025 air combat between the two nations was a central topic of military analysis at the conference.

---

It is important to mention that this writer reported the remarks and published the pictures of Captain Launay after taking permission from him.

---

Hamid Mir is a journalist and TV anchor associated with Geo News and participated in the Indo-Pacific conference in France as a war correspondent and security expert.

The Hindutvatis know what struck them on that day.

 

[Aggregate]

I mean if you really think Pakistan's leadership will be focussing towards economic development instead of military, you haven't been looking at the past 70 years my friend. The first thing they do after the may clashes was promote themselves and cover themselves with immunity. To be fair, there's isn't a lot the Pakistani military can do when confronting a behemoth like India, either they maintain military parity and cripple their economy, or they concentrate on economy and loose the military parity, it aint so simple like "Pakistan has more or less reached the same level as India when it comes to Military for all practical purposes, and can now progress to improve its economy and resolve internal problems".. its one or the other.

We all love how india shouts nonstop about the economy but that is only on the acocunt of your 7 times larger population. In terms of GDP per capita India was worse off than Pakistan until early 2000s and is not that far off from Pakistan, even today. A country like Pakistan has much higher prospects of jumping up in GDP per capita very quickly, since we have been artificially bogged down by Afghan war since the 80s and there is far more untapped investment, mineral extraction, oil extraction and other opportunities here, with a far smaller population.

So, before lecturing Pakistan, do not forget that in terms of per capita economy, india has only recently overtaken Pakistan by a small margin and it can take very little time for the tables to turn. Overall GDP, yes, India is in much of a lead and that's normal for a far large population, that is not an area where Pakistan can and should bother to compete. Its the standards of living of individuals that count.

As for military, Pakistan has kept enough deterrence to not let india take back almost 83,000 Sq KMs of area that india claims to be its own while staying on par 9slightly better or worse) with India on GDP per Capita and HDI. Granted we have had huge economic gap since 1990s but with the Afghan problem being taken care of, things should be under control and back to normal. india needs to care abut the poverty, devastated foreign relations and especially the military failures since the last decade. For all our problems, at least we do not have an internationally designated ethnic butcher of Gujrat as our leader. Thank you.

 

[hnn]

Again, I have mentioned from real world scenarios of IAF experience over Kargil while you are quoting the UCAV's stats from wiki,,, I wonder who uses the ChatGPT between us...without a full payload capacity the so called drone strikes will be not effective or more sorties have to be conducted..

Since you want don't say anything but naively random and general stuff (that too from 1999), here are some specifics for you:

• IAF experienced issues over Kargil because it was mainly flying Mig-21 and Mig-27 without precision guided munitions. The problem with those aircraft was that neither was designed for high altitude flying esp over mountains. The IAF lost their aircraft to Pakistani MANPADS because the Migs were using rockets/bombs and not missiles so they had to fly in close to the target (i.e. in the range of MANPADS) - However, IAF later corrected their strategy (not surprising India only ever "learns" after falling in a pit) - and used Mirage 2K with LGBs, and minimum flying altitude was set to be 30k ft. (unlike earlier where the Migs flew at lower altitudes b/w 18-22k Ft. because they incorrectly thought it was a good idea to use terrain for cover) - Using Mirage 2K with LGBs and a minimum altitude of 30k proved not only effective but also game changing, and India had Pakistani entrenched positions pinned down. So, first of all get all the facts correct instead of selectively picking out the one that helps your incorrect assertion.
• Secondly, the feasibility of a Jet Fighter at high altitudes given it's role is the main problem faced by these aircraft. You mentioned "low air density" without understanding "density altitude" - the problem with "high density altitude" in the mountains is it negatively effects the thrust and altitude gain which summarily means the fighter aircraft has reduced High-G Maneuvering efficiency as compared to same altitude over plains because for altitude change "pressure density" plays a key role which is much higher in the mountains because the land under it is already high thus the column of air under the aircraft is less than on top of it. However, the very same "density altitude" coupled with colder air temperatures around Siachen helps an aircraft when it comes to cruising and maintaining altitude (which applies to UCAV) as e.g. if it is already flying at or above 30k and needs to maintain the altitude and loiter the thinner air density lowers down the drag on it, and the colder air temperature lowers the overall "applicable density altitude" practically lowering down the altitude load on the aircraft e.g. UCAV already flying at and maintaining 30k with air temperature at -40C will practically mean that it is functioning as if it is flying at 28k instead.
• Now for your Wikipedia info, Akinci has a proven flight record of 13 hours+ endurance at 30k (it's operational ceiling not service ceiling) with near full payload capacity and that is already higher than the highest point on Saltoro i.e. 25k ft. . It can carry 2 SOM-B2 each with a 230 Kg Tandem Penetrating warhead or multiple MAM-T. The former is a choice for greatly damaging the infrastructure of entrenched positions, and latter a choice to entrap (debris and snow). This is the tech currently available and operational since 2021. The tech that is under development is only going to get better.
• Needless to point out here but I will still anyway, the UCAV doesn't have to fly from the high altitude mountains (which would present it with elevation climb load) but to fly in from a much lower altitude to gain the 30k rather smoothly and then maintain the elevation while approaching Saltoro (which then wouldn't be challenge).

and the drones by virtue of their inferior power will be sitting ducks at that altitudes and slowpeeds.. we all read what happened to general anwari's heli when he was conducting operations over the battlefield,, it aint simply feasible.

Again, your naive assumption that aircraft today still have to get close to a target or fly directly overhead to engage. In 1999, long ranged ALMs weren't readily available to India let alone to Pakistan (which didn't even have those). Your MANPADS don't make much sense today because the best you have on Saltoro is ~ 6-8 kms. Now factor in that the UCAV is already flying 5k ft above the highest point on the ridge, it only has to loiter at a horizontal distance of 10 kms to be effectively out of range of any MANPADS you currently have. Now, the MAM-T has a range of 30 kms to begin with, which will practically increase if it is launched from a point as descrbed above. The SOM-B2? That has a range of 250 kms so it can practically fly over Skardu airspace and still engage Saltoro. However, on papers your MANPADS like Igla-S can engage an incoming cruise missile but consider that the SOM is terrain hugging, the MANPADS do not have a warning system and rely on visuals, and that they can be easily saturated with just 2 SOMs - and if multiple MAM-T is used then? And keep in mind this scenario is from the highest available point on Saltoro. Your low lying Akash systems wouldn't help much because of the terrain they'll have to traverse through. Besides, you do realize that any such assault would be highly coordinated, meaning during a full scale war, with multiple UCAVs, and where your major AD systems will already be saturated with other PAF vectors, and Saltoro will not be a priority for them.

But then again, this scenarios aint gonna happen as we both know Pakistani commanders have already tried all these scenarios over the past 3 decades but the formidable heights prevent these attempts.

I don't even have to say anything here considering you have no idea what was available to Pakistan back in the day and what is available today. This is your obsessive denial of reality because you can't bear Pakistan making progress and slapping the bully out of India. However, you did get something partially right i.e. this scenario is not going to happen during a cowardly 88-hour conflict initiated by India.

In regards to your insistence on strategic value of Siachen heights, I aint gonna say they give a strategic advantage and that they somehow cut Pakistan and Chinese access , because they don't. They are a strategic asset because they are controlled by us and we would rather have them under our control than Pakistani control,, simple as that... and pakistani DGMO's simply can't seem to control the urge to launch futile attempts to push Indians outside of Siachen,, so we are happy to oblige them..

Please keep the "ice and rocks for yourself" - how many times do you want us to tell you that? The last assault made on Siachen was when the USSR was still around. The world has moved on greatly since then but I guess you haven't.

They also serve as a reminder to the Indian armed forces heroics and success and serve as a morale upper hand over the opposing side...just like Pakistan takes pride in its successes at 48 war, or its airforces strikes in 65 war,, these victories at Siachen or Kargil instil a sense of elan and moral ascendancy to the armed forces.

Yes, that is all it serves today, a reminder of your past glory - like an old man with one foot in his grave recalling the adventures of his youth to numb down the sombreness of his ED.

 

[hnn]

I mean if you really think Pakistan's leadership will be focussing towards economic development instead of military, you haven't been looking at the past 70 years my friend. The first thing they do after the may clashes was promote themselves and cover themselves with immunity. To be fair, there's isn't a lot the Pakistani military can do when confronting a behemoth like India, either they maintain military parity and cripple their economy, or they concentrate on economy and loose the military parity, it aint so simple like "Pakistan has more or less reached the same level as India when it comes to Military for all practical purposes, and can now progress to improve its economy and resolve internal problems".. its one or the other.

Well thank you for re-affirming the insecurity laden actions from India. If India is such a "Behemoth" as you say, then why can't it stop being scared of Pakistan and mind its own business?