Again, I understand your sentiments. But what you are basically saying is that we should go out and murder innocent x, y and z just because a, b and c killed our civilians. I don't understand how that justice system works bro.
Hey Bro, what justice system are you specifically talking about? The Indians? They routinely let off rapists and murderers of Dalits and Muslims. Pakistan's? its "Islamic" in cosmetic only where only power and money matters. This is why they allowed all type of beghairet behaviors and flaunt it in the media across the lands. The end-game to fight a savage war to ensure our kids and their kids do not have to deal with this in the future. Right now you allowed the enemy twice to get away with it. He doesn't respect you because you don't respect your own self. By pretending to follow the Quran, while in reality Pakistan at the state level (the one conducting the attacks) is closer to Sodom and Gomorrah than it is to an actual enlighten Islamic state is laughable.
I highly doubt IAF would risk flying again for strike missions. SU30s the primary Brahmos launch platform, will be clearly seen and shot away. Most likely next time PAF won't wait for launching PL-15Es to only those aircraft that strike Pakistan, infact, they will most likely take out IAF scrambles early on. SU30MKI can be detected and defined as per it's signature must easier. It's a large aircraft, cannot miss. Employing AD and Fighters will make sure SU30s are not much of a threat in a pre-emptive strike.
I find this critic questionable in hindsight. Russian forces are using a variety of equipment ranging from low-tech to high-tech in sophistication in the ongoing war with Ukraine. However, Russian forces have also lost some of their best equipment in the ongoing war, Russian losses in the ongoing war are not limited to low-tech equipment exclusively. A large number of Russian tanks also had same exploitable weakness that was found in supposedly inferior Iraqi tanks in 1991, the ammo section was breached to kill all inside.
Just because we are engaged in sins, it does not justify commiting crimes against humanity. What have Indian civilians done to us, specifically? Any idea how many civilians on that side of the border would be against war with Pakistan? What have Indian children done to us? What about the Indian Muslims who might also be in the danger zone inadvertantly?
How some American analysts, that focus on non-proliferation see the conflict. Basically what these guys said: Pakistan played up its damage to make a narrative to fit its goal while india’s rhetoric played into Pakistan’s strategy. India played itself 6 ways to Sunday.
Monday, June 9, 2025
Eurasia Review
A Journal of Analysis and News
Shattering A Myth: How Pakistan’s Warfighting Doctrine Prevailed Over India’s ‘Asian Tiger’ Ambitions? – OpEd
June 9, 2025 0 Comments
By Altaf Moti
The early summer of 2025 will be etched in military history as a period when the strategic landscape of South Asia underwent a seismic shift. A brief but intensely violent four-day conflict, erupting in May 2025, saw Pakistan decisively counter a premeditated act of aggression by India.
This war, which India initiated with the apparent belief that Pakistan was militarily vulnerable, concluded with a stunning reversal of fortunes. Pakistan’s robust and technologically superior retaliatory strikes, particularly its dominance in the aerial domain and effective ground responses, not only shattered India’s military arrogance but also firmly established Pakistan among nations boasting premier military capabilities, commanding newfound respect from the global community.
India’s Ill-Fated Gamble: Underestimating a Resilient Pakistan
For some time leading up to the May 2025 conflict, a narrative of an indomitable “Asian Tiger” was aggressively promoted by India. This self-congratulatory image, fueled by significant defence acquisitions and nationalistic rhetoric, seemingly led New Delhi’s strategic planners to a critical miscalculation: they perceived Pakistan as a state that could be dominated or coerced through limited military adventurism. The tragic terrorist incident in Pahalgam in late April 2025 was cynically seized upon by India as a pretext to launch its pre-planned offensive, “Operation Sindoor,” in early May, under the guise of targeting militant infrastructure.
India’s leadership, blinded by hubris, appeared to believe that a swift, punitive strike would go largely unanswered or would be met with a tepid response. They fatally underestimated Pakistan’s national resolve, the sophisticated advancements in its defence technology, the operational readiness of its armed forces, and its unwavering commitment to respond decisively to any violation of its sovereignty.
Pakistan’s Swift Retort: A Symphony of Modern Warfare Surprises the World
Contrary to Indian expectations, Pakistan’s response to the aggression was neither delayed nor weak. It was, in fact, a meticulously coordinated showcase of modern military capabilities that took India and international observers by complete surprise. Within hours of Indian incursions, Pakistan launched its retaliatory strikes, targeting key Indian military assets and forward positions with precision and overwhelming effect.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF), spearheading the counter-attack, demonstrated exceptional skill and technological superiority. Utilising a combination of its advanced fighter platforms, including the continually upgraded JF-17 Thunders and other sophisticated assets, augmented by a formidable integrated air defence network, the PAF effectively blunted Indian aerial advances and took the fight deep into enemy territory. Simultaneously, Pakistan’s army responded with calibrated but punishing ground assaults on Indian military bases and troop concentrations along the Line of Control and the working boundary. The use of cutting-edge surveillance drones, electronic warfare systems, and long-range artillery by Pakistan during these engagements highlighted a military that was not just prepared but was also a step ahead in the tactical application of modern combat technology. The world watched as the aggressor quickly became the defender, struggling to cope with the intensity and sophistication of Pakistan’s multi-pronged riposte.
The Battle for Air Superiority: Six Indian High-Tech Aircraft Downed, Including Three Rafales
The defining feature of the May 2025 conflict was the decisive aerial victory achieved by the Pakistan Air Force. In a series of intense dogfights and surface-to-air engagements over four days, the PAF inflicted crippling losses on the Indian Air Force (IAF). The most significant blow to India’s pride and air power was the confirmed downing of six of its frontline, high-technology aircraft.
Among these were three of India’s much-vaunted French-made Rafale fighter jets, aircraft that New Delhi had showcased as a game-changer in the region. The loss of these advanced platforms, alongside other sophisticated IAF jets, in such a short span was a catastrophic blow to India’s military credibility. Reports emerging during and after the conflict, including from international military analysts and even reluctant acknowledgements from some neutral observers, pieced together the stark reality of the IAF’s disastrous performance. Pakistani pilots, flying indigenous and jointly developed aircraft, outmaneuvered and outfought their Indian counterparts, exposing critical weaknesses in IAF training, operational doctrine, and technological integration despite the high-value assets at their disposal. The destruction of these six aircraft, including the prized Rafales, completely deflated India’s balloon of perceived air dominance and sent shockwaves through its defence establishment.
Ground Offensive Thwarted: Pakistani Boots Silence Indian Guns
While the PAF was achieving supremacy in the skies, the Pakistan Army was equally resolute on the ground. Indian attempts to make strategic inroads or create panic through cross-border shelling and commando raids were met with fierce and effective resistance. Pakistani ground forces not only defended their territory with valor but also launched powerful counter-offensives against several Indian military bases and forward operating locations.
These targeted attacks on Indian ground installations resulted in significant damage to their infrastructure, logistics, and morale. Reports indicated considerable Indian casualties and the destruction of military hardware. The tactical ingenuity and bravery of Pakistani soldiers ensured that India’s ground offensive ambitions were comprehensively quashed. The coordinated action between Pakistan’s air and land forces demonstrated a level of synergy that proved overwhelming for the Indian military, further contributing to the rapid unravelling of India’s war plans.
The Shattering of Arrogance: India Learns a Bitter Lesson
The May 2025 war served as a brutal reality check for India. The image of an invincible “Asian Tiger,” so carefully cultivated, lay in tatters, exposed as a facade by Pakistan’s superior military performance. The conflict revealed that high-tech acquisitions alone do not guarantee victory; it is the blend of technology with superior training, strategy, national courage, and the will to fight that proves decisive.
India’s arrogance, built on a foundation of jingoistic media narratives and an overestimation of its own capabilities, was shattered against the bedrock of Pakistan’s preparedness. The ceasefire, brokered after frantic diplomatic efforts initiated due to India’s mounting losses and the clear trajectory towards a larger debacle, came as a face-saving measure for New Delhi. In the aftermath, a palpable sense of fear and caution has gripped the Indian military and political leadership regarding any future misadventures against Pakistan. Reliable military experts now concur that the drubbing received in May 2025 has forced India into a period of deep introspection and has significantly heightened its apprehension about Pakistan’s retaliatory capacity. The threats that now occasionally emanate from New Delhi are seen more as bluster to placate a domestic audience than as genuine indicators of offensive intent.
Pakistan’s Ascendance: Global Recognition of a Formidable Military Power
Pakistan’s decisive handling of the May 2025 conflict and its demonstrated military prowess have profoundly altered its international standing. The nation emerged from the war not just as a victor but as a mature and formidable military power, capable of defending its sovereignty with exceptional skill and resolve. Developed countries and leading military nations across the globe have taken note of Pakistan’s sophisticated use of modern technology, its operational excellence, and its strategic restraint even in the face of provocation, followed by a proportionally strong response.
The conflict highlighted Pakistan’s indigenous defence production capabilities, showcased by the performance of platforms like the JF-17 Thunder, and its ability to integrate diverse technologies into a cohesive war-fighting machine. There is now an undeniable respect for Pakistan’s armed forces in international defence circles. This respect is not just for their combat abilities but also for their strategic thinking and the calibrated nature of their responses, which successfully de-escalated a conflict initiated by India, but on Pakistan’s terms. The world now looks at Pakistan with increased dignity, recognizing it as a key anchor of stability and a nation whose military capabilities cannot be underestimated.
A New Dawn of Deterrence and Respect
The Four-Day War of May 2025 was a watershed moment. It was a conflict that Pakistan did not seek but was thoroughly prepared for. India, driven by hegemonic ambitions and a flawed assessment of Pakistan’s strength, initiated hostilities only to find its military machine outfought, its strategic plans in disarray, and its international image severely dented.
Pakistan’s victory was a testament to its armed forces’ dedication, professionalism, and technological edge in critical areas. The downing of advanced Indian aircraft, including Rafales, the successful ground operations, and the overall strategic poise demonstrated by Pakistan have collectively reinforced its deterrence capabilities manifold. Pakistan has unequivocally proven that it stands as a formidable guardian of its frontiers, a nation where military excellence and unwavering national spirit converge. The global community now clearly recognizes Pakistan as a pivotal military power, a country that commands respect and whose commitment to peace is backed by the undeniable strength to defend it. The echoes of May 2025 continue to resonate, serving as a stark reminder that Pakistan’s era of being underestimated is decisively over.
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Altaf Moti
Altaf Moti writes on diverse topics such as politics, economics, and society.
www.armscontrolwonk.com
