ISLAMABAD: Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, on the 7th anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, said Friday that since March 2021, despite fiscal constraints, the PAF pursued comprehensive modernisation and indigenisation to transition into a ‘Next Generation Air Force’.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) commemorated the 7th anniversary of Operation Swift Retort at Air Headquarters, marking a landmark demonstration of resolve, professionalism and calibrated response in modern air warfare.
Addressing the ceremony, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber said: “Pakistan is a responsible country which desires peace with honour”. He recalled that seven years ago, the aggressor miscalculated Pakistan’s resolve and capability by challenging its sovereignty under the cover of darkness.
He said that PAF’s measured broad daylight response re-established credible deterrence against a numerically superior adversary.
Highlighting the complex global and regional security environment and evolving character of warfare, the Air Chief noted that PAF recalibrated its operational doctrine and rapidly inducted advanced combat and support capabilities, including indigenously developed unmanned systems, electronic warfare, space and cyber assets, establishing a unique home-grown multi-domain kill chain.
Referring to Marka-e-Haq in May 2025, he said that when Pakistan’s sovereignty was again challenged, the PAF conducted, for the first time, full-spectrum multi-domain operations that were precisely executed and decisively overwhelmed the adversary.
He highlighted the downing of advanced platforms including Rafale, SU-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29 and Unmanned Aerial Systems, strikes deep inside hostile territory, and neutralisation of S-400 air defence systems along with their command and control centre.
Reaffirming commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty, the Air Chief stated that the PAF would continue to remain a symbol of pride, ensuring credible deterrence and a vigilant yet responsible defence posture.
