PAF chief sounds alarm on Indo-Pak "imbalance"

At global air chiefs gathering, Pakistan sounds alarm

Aviation Week & Space Technology
09/22/2003, page 28

Robert Wall
Washington

War Clouds

The warming of U.S.-Indian relations is threatening to undermine the strategic balance between India and Pakistan and could escalate conflict in the volatile region, warns Pakistan’s air chief.

At an unusual gathering of almost 100 chiefs of air forces here, service representatives from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, South America and Africa presented views on some of the problems they face.

Perhaps the most provocative pronouncements were made by Pakistan’s air chief, Marshal Kaleen Saadat, who blasted a U.S. decision to permit export of Israeli airborne-early-warning equipment to India. “This one single acquisition has the potential of further tilting the military balance, especially relating to air power, making it totally lopsided ,” he argues. The strategic balance has been critical in keeping the factions from open conflict, he said, adding that “any further deterioration in this area can prove to be very detrimental to the security of the region.”

Other developments have led to an imbalance between the air forces, which Saadat characterized as reaching “a dangerous level.” Among them are India’s continued military funding for new fighters, while Pakistan has seen its military erode under sanctions imposed in, and lasting for much of, the 1990s. Saadat further complained that since the resumption of military deliveries from the U.S. to Pakistan in 2001, assistance has been limited–specifically, Washington’s decision to not export F-16s bought, but never released, to Pakistan. “Should the imbalance continue to grow at the present rate, it will soon reach a stage where one side may conclude that it can militarily overwhelm its adversary with relative ease,” he reiterated.

Capability shortfalls that ostensibly hinder Pakistan’s military from more effectively pursuing Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in the border region with Afghanistan were also outlined by Saadat. “Better aerial surveillance systems, specialized night-fighting devices and more combat- and troop-carrying helicopters are needed,” he maintained.

Saadat urged the U.S. to keep Pakistan’s needs in mind as it pursues its regional policy, although U.S. military officials have made it clear they are intent on expanding ties with India, by continuing with a series of joint exercises conducted in recent months and with the sale of military equipment. “The relationship is evolving as is fit and proper for the two largest democracies,” said USAF Lt. Gen. Tome Walters, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, overseers of the growing arms sales to India.

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jmho hes barking up the wrong tree. there cannot be a balance
between the s.asian hegemon and a economic basket case dependent on doles and handouts from US/PRC. the days of
free $$ gift hampers of F16s from Uncle are over. its time to
reconcile to a reduced place in the scheme of things as india looks
more to other issues like PRCs naval & air strike expansion.

I guess he feels bad no being the center of attention anymore.