SOURCE: AFI
In a recent statement to local media, Major General Zahid Mahmood (R) of the Pakistani Army expressed concerns regarding India’s potential acquisition of the F-35 Lightning II from the United States. He emphasized that this advanced fifth-generation fighter jet could significantly alter the strategic balance in the region, particularly in relation to Pakistan.
Maj Gen Mahmood articulated that the introduction of the F-35 into the Indian Air Force (IAF) inventory would likely encourage India to conduct more aggressive military operations, specifically targeting areas like Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). He warned that this capability would give India a strategic advantage, potentially escalating tensions along the contentious borders.
Maj Gen Mahmood stressed the need for Pakistan to reassess its strategic and tactical doctrines. The PAF would need to consider how to counter or deter potential F-35 incursions, possibly through enhancements in its own air defense systems, electronic warfare capabilities, or by seeking advanced fighter jets from allies like China.
The general highlighted the threat to operational security, suggesting that the stealth capabilities of the F-35 would make Pakistani airspace more vulnerable to surprise attacks or intelligence-gathering missions.
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