Political complexity, border conflicts, and military tensions have long plagued South Asia. In addition to having an impact on their respective countries, the despot’s policies have influenced the region’s general chances for peace and stability. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, and Narendra Modi are among the Indian civilian leaders who have failed to promote lasting peace in the area. Their choices have frequently strained regional ties as well as domestic politics. The Kashmir conflict, which started with the division of British India in 1947, is one of the most enduring and tense issues in South Asia. This battle has only grown more complex over the years, resulting in numerous wars, impasses, and innumerable unresolved conflicts. The situation is still unstable and hazardous.
As you are all aware, the Indian media fabricated the entire tale shortly after the Pulwama incident—the Modi regime’s false flag operation—with the intention of giving the appearance that India might choose to use aggression or adventurism against Pakistan. Soon after, during the dark midnight of May 6 and 7, Delhi launched a candestine attack in response to a fourteen-day standoff between India and Pakistan. Regretfully, the elderly and children in Pakistan were the innocent targets of the atrocity once more. The Pakistan Air Force was vigilant. It had been on combat air patrol for the past many days, and Pakistan’s brave pilots shot down at least five aircraft—five jets of the Indian Air Force. Along with that, at least seven drones were shot down, and many were seized by the Pakistan Army.
India deployed Rafale fighter jets equipped with HAMMER precision-guided bombs and Storm Shadow (Scalp EG) cruise missiles, likely from Ambala Air Force Station, flying stealthily to avoid radar. Storm Shadows (range: 500+ km) were launched 100–120 km from the border, targeting deep infrastructure tied to cross-border activity using terrain-hugging and infrared homing. A second wave of Rafales used HAMMER bombs to strike fortified shelters near the Line
of Control, hitting suspected target positions from 50–70 km away. Simultaneously, Sukhoi Su30s (from Bareilly Air Base) likely carried BrahMos missiles (range: 500 km, speed: Mach 2.8) to attack radar/logistical nodes, avoiding Pakistani airspace. Drones, including Israeli Sky Striker and ALFA-S, launched from near Rajouri and Poonch, delivered kamikaze attacks using real-time intelligence, damaging command vehicles and mobile radios. This operation combined long-range airstrikes, stealth tactics, and unmanned precision targeting in a highly coordinated offensive in Pakistan.
The public asks how it is feasible for Pakistan to declare to have shot down five Indian fighter airplanes, especially when the planes were shot down inside Indian airspace. To penetrate that far into the enemy and strike a target—and to do so without actually seeing it? At this point, it becomes essential to comprehend the capabilities of the Pakistani air defense system. Pakistan reacted quickly and aggressively, military disclosed the engagement resulted in five Indian aircraft and UAV downed, including an Israeli Heron drone, a MiG-29, a Sukhoi Su-30, and three Dassault Rafales. J-10C and JF-17 Block III aircrafts fitted with PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles were allegedly utilized by Pakistan. The PL-15 is a radar-guided missile manufactured in China that uses active radar homing and sophisticated inertial navigation to engage targets more than 200 kilometers distant.
In order to achieve air superiority, Pakistan must strategically combine its modern missile systems, airborne early warning capabilities, and a variety of fighter platforms. An important example of how support systems are essential for bridging technology gaps was when a JF-17 Thunder, backed by an AWACS, intercepted and forced a superior Indian Rafale to retreat. The JF-17’s KLJ-7 radar is less sophisticated than Rafale’s RBE2-AA radar and SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, however this difference was eliminated by the tactical application of AWACS. Pakistan’s BVR combat capabilities were further enhanced with the deployment of the J-10C, a fourth-plusgeneration fighter fitted with the high-speed, long-range PL-15 missile and AESA radar. Utilized on the upgraded JF-17 Block III, the PL-15 offers a notable advantage in air-to-air combat by outperforming the Rafale’s Meteor missile in terms of range and electronic countermeasures.
With the help of F-16s and AEW&C systems like the Saab Erieye and ZDK-03, Pakistan was able to guarantee complete radar coverage and layered situational awareness. Pakistan was able to maintain a technologically advanced and adaptable aerial defense infrastructure by activating the HQ-9 high-altitude air defense system, which added an extra layer of strategic deterrence. Despite having similar fighter specifications, Pakistan outperforms India in terms of ideological cohesion and tactical execution. Utilized on the J-10C and JF-17 Block III, the PL-15 missile improves BVR superiority by outperforming India’s Meteor in range. Because to Pakistan’s successful employment of electronic warfare, AEW&C assistance (such as Saab Erieye), and strategic air defense systems like the HQ-9, Rafale, despite its advanced technology, hasn’t provided a clear advantage. This multi-layered defense system strengthens air supremacy by allowing Pakistan’s fighters, the J-10C and F-16, to neutralize threats with enhanced ESM/ECCM and radar-guided accuracy. In short, Pakistan’s air warfare doctrine has matured significantly. From defending airspace with the HQ-9, to conducting coordinated strikes with JF-17s and J-10Cs, and leveraging the range and speed of PL-15 missiles, Pakistan has elevated its deterrence capability. It has demonstrated that while its platforms may vary in cost or origin, their employment reflects superior tactical coordination.
Reopening Pakistani airspace suggests a halt rather than a withdrawal. Retired Maj. Gen. Inam ul Haque told DW that he is confident Pakistan will strike back if necessary, saying a balanced response will end the initial phase of escalation and deter future Indian assault. Pakistan’s inability to stop India’s missile attacks was also criticized, as neither country currently has strong air-tosurface interception capabilities. Pakistani military and strategic analysts view the initial airstrikes as defensive, and they believe that Pakistan has the right to retaliate militarily, but only after considering international diplomatic responses. This difference illustrates how regional warfare is evolving, despite the fact that there are a few ground-to-ground missile interception systems. Laughter is good. But in the shadow of guns and fire, clarity, seriousness, and strategic thought are even better. And this is the challenge before every thinking Policy maker: to laugh—but not forget the looming gravity, to joke—but also prepare. Ultimately, war is not only about machines—it is about decisions. Technology is only as effective as the doctrine and leadership that directs it. Whether through diplomatic caution or retaliatory strategy, the future of the subcontinent lies not in escalation but in understanding that stability demands wisdom, not just weaponry.
