Latest news with #AurangzebAhmed
India Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
How Op Sindoor exposed Pakistan air defence, Chinese armaments
India's decisive strategic and operational triumph in Operation Sindoor has laid bare critical weaknesses in Pakistan's military, which is heavily reliant on Chinese-supplied technology. A month after the conflict, which ended with Pakistan seeking a ceasefire within four days, a critical review of the operation has highlighted the inadequacy of Pakistan's air defence systems, particularly the Chinese-made HQ-9 and HQ-16, against India's advanced missile technology and electronic warfare observers claim Pakistan's $3 million-per-unit HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system, touted as a cornerstone of its air defence, failed miserably to detect or intercept India's BrahMos and SCALP defence analysts and social media lambasted Pakistani personnel as 'mute spectators', pointing to operational inefficiencies and lack of skill as key contributors to the also established that Indian forces, leveraging superior missile technology, satellite intelligence and electronic warfare, penetrated Pakistan's defences with ease, targeting key military installations. Indian loitering munitions humiliated Pakistan's air defence network by destroying several HQ-9 batteries, exacerbating losses of fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, drones and radar sites On May 15, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) admitted that the BrahMos missile's unpredictable trajectory rendered it nearly impossible to intercept, a statement echoed by Chinese Communist Party outlets. The HQ-9's failure stemmed from technical limitations, poor integration into Pakistan's defence network and inadequate operator analysts have criticised Pakistan's deployment of the HQ-9 air defence system, citing inadequate training, poor network integration, and lack of real-time coordination as key factors in its failure. The HQ-9's design, influenced by older Russian systems like the S-300, has raised concerns about its reliability against modern, high-speed upgrades, the system underperformed against Indian missile technology, sparking doubts about Chinese defence exports' credibility and the HQ-9's effectiveness in high-intensity critique highlights the challenges of deploying advanced defence systems, particularly when training and integration are inadequate. The HQ-9's performance has implications for China's defence export reputation and the system's viability in modern warfare HQ-9B, with a reduced engagement range of 250-300 km, and the truck-mounted HQ-16, with limited mobility, proved ill-equipped to counter supersonic, low-flying missiles like the BrahMos. These shortcomings echo past failures, including India's unopposed 2019 Balakot airstrike and a 2022 incident where a BrahMos missile, accidentally fired by India, penetrated deep into Pakistani territory Sindoor also saw India's air defence systems and electronic warfare capabilities neutralise Pakistan's drone fleet, crippling its offensive and surveillance operations. In response, Pakistan is planning to bolster its drone arsenal with Chinese Wing Loong series combat drones, aiming to establish a dedicated drone by the defeat, Pakistan is aggressively pursuing military modernisation, doubling down on Chinese and Turkish technology while diversifying with a $9 billion arms deal with Russia. The proposed Russian package includes tanks, air defence systems, warships, Mi-26T2 combat helicopters, and possibly MiG-35 fighter is also set to acquire China's HQ-19 ballistic missile defence system and 40 J-35A stealth fighters starting 2026, alongside efforts to improve operator training and coordination to address multi-layered HQ-9's dismal performance has not only exposed Pakistan's operational deficiencies but also dented China's reputation as a reliable arms exporter. Modelled partly on Russia's S-300, the HQ-9 and its variants have been questioned for their effectiveness against modern, high-speed, precision-guided missiles, raising doubts about their reliability in high-intensity dominance in Operation Sindoor underscores its technological and strategic edge even as Pakistan scrambles to rebuild its shattered defences. The conflict serves as a warning to nations relying on Chinese military hardware as India's advanced capabilities continue to reshape the regional power to India Today MagazineTune InMust Watch
Mint
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Why is Pakistani Air Marshal Aurangzeb going viral on internet?
A particular exchange from Pakistan Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed's May 9 press conference - held in the wake of Operation Sindoor - has become a goldmine for meme-makers online. The viral clip features a pointed question from a female journalist that seemingly threw the senior official off his game, much to the amusement of netizens. The journalist asked, 'If you could tell me in very non-technical terms about the air defense system, what capabilities does Pakistan have when it comes to neutralising surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missile systems?' What followed was an awkward pause, with Ahmed visibly unsure of how to proceed. His hesitant and somewhat muddled attempt at a response gave social media users all the fodder they needed to launch a meme storm. Many likened his flustered demeanor to the feeling of getting hit with 'an out-of-syllabus question.' Trying to salvage the moment, the Air Vice Marshal said, 'Air-to-surface, okay, this means academic discourse—a pretty intense kind—when you are asking such technical details, and we bore the rest of the people with them. But I must say, as a broad guideline, the Pakistan Air Force air defense system is pretty capable of handling high-speed, long-range vectors, even hypersonic weapons. So this should be pretty comforting to everybody inside Pakistan.' Despite the effort, the clip - especially the initial exchange- took on a life of its own. A user going by the handle Crystal Clear posted the video on X, commenting, 'How did I miss this epic portion? The 2nd part went viral, but this 1st part is awesome. This guy is the greatest bluff.'
News18
14-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Photoshops Old Image To Show Submarine, Naval Readiness Against India, Called Out
Last Updated: Pakistan showcased a doctored two-year-old image from a joint naval drill with China to falsely depict its naval readiness against India. Amid heightened tensions with India, Pakistan seems to have run a cocktail of misinformation and fake propaganda by using a two-year-old image to falsely show their Navy's preparedness against India. The photos were displayed during a press conference in Islamabad, where senior Pakistani military representatives, including Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, Director General of Public Relations for the Pakistan Air Force, and Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations attempted to show their country's air, land, and sea assets in the wake of a conflict with India. At the briefing, Pakistan officials showed an image purportedly depicting the active deployment of Pakistan's naval fleet. The image also featured a submarine, two warships, and three aircraft, defining the setup as operational readiness to respond to India. However, social media users were quick to identify that the image had previously appeared in an official Radio Pakistan publication in December 2023. According to reports, the original image was clicked during a joint Pakistan-China naval exercise in the Indian Ocean, and shows a formation of Chinese and Pakistani warships with three Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft flying in formation overhead. The original image also did not include a submarine, which mysteriously appeared in the image presented at the Islamabad press conference, thus proving that the same was doctored. The images used in the DGISPR press brief about the Pakistan Coast Guard seizing a 'navy" are actually from 2023 , and they were clearly photoshopped even back then #NuclearLeak #ceasefire — Manglam Mishra (@ManglamMis67977) May 13, 2025 During the press briefing, the country's Naval chief expressed complete satisfaction and confidence over operational preparedness of the Pakistan Navy Fleet. He also acknowledged and praised the dedication and professionalism of officers and men in successfully achieving operational objectives and milestones for the year 2023. This comes amid the Press Information Bureau's regular fact checks, exposing Pakistan's barrage of false news and claims. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Adampur airbase in Punjab proved Pakistan's claims of destroying the facility were false. Amid retaliatory strikes by India, Pakistan had claimed it had inflicted heavy damage to the facility. However, satellite imagery from third parties, such as China's Mizar Vision, had also confirmed that no structural damage was caused to the airbase. First Published: May 14, 2025, 14:50 IST
Express Tribune
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed becomes top Google search in Pakistan
Listen to article Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has become one of the most searched individuals in Pakistan, following heightened military tensions with India earlier. Search interest in 'Aurangzeb' surged sharply in Pakistan on May 12, 2025, with Google Trends data showing a peak value of 100 at 2:00 AM—the highest point recorded during the past week. The trend has maintained elevated levels since the peak, indicating sustained public engagement and interest in the PAF spokesperson. Aurangzeb Ahmed, who serves as the official spokesperson for the PAF, has gained popularity among the Pakistani public, particularly the youth, for his composed demeanour and subtle humour during press briefings. In a widely circulated clip, the Air Vice Marshal said, 'I will pick up from where I left, day before yesterday, PAF vs IAF, 6-nil,' referring to Pakistan's reported downing of five Indian aircraft during the escalation. The tally reportedly included three Rafale jets, a Su-30, a MiG-29, and a combat drone. The Pakistan Armed Forces launched Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos in response to Indian military strikes that began overnight on May 6–7. The Indian attacks resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. On the Indian side, 'Ceasefire meaning' was the most searched term, registering over 10 million queries. 'Operation Sindoor' and 'Mock Drill' followed with five million and one million searches, respectively. In Pakistan, the term 'Islamabad Airport' ranked third, with 100,000 searches. Other popular queries included 'JF-17 Thunder,' 'DG ISPR,' 'Dassault Aviation share price,' and Indian fighter pilot 'Shivangi Singh.' 'PAF conducted largest airstrike on Indian airfields since 1971' The PAF targeted the highest number of Indian Air Force (IAF) airfields in a single mission since the 1971 war, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed said on Sunday. In a media briefing, the Air Vice Marshal said that the PAF strikes were conducted with precision and deliberately avoided civilian infrastructure. He further said that the operation was a swift and calculated response to recent escalations, aimed at deterring further hostilities. 'The mission was executed on our terms, under clear instructions from the leadership,' Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb. 'India attempted to establish a 'new normal' through aggressive escalation. Pakistan's swift and coordinated reply denied them that opportunity,' Aurangzeb Ahmed said, adding that Pakistan's military radar and jamming systems also intercepted multiple Indian drones aimed at civilian areas.
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Pakistan Uses Old, Morphed Image To Claim Its Navy's Operational Readiness
New Delhi: The Pakistani military has come under scrutiny for presenting outdated and digitally manipulated imagery to support claims of heightened naval operational readiness. The image in question, prominently displayed during a recent press briefing, has since been proven to date back to at least 2023. At a recent press conference in Islamabad, senior Pakistani military representatives, including Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, Director General of Public Relations for the Pakistan Air Force, and Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, attempted to convince the Pakistani people that its air, land and sea assets are at their optimal best for deployment. Vice Admiral Nawaz showed a photo purportedly depicting active deployment of Pakistan's naval fleet, featuring two warships, a submarine, and three aircraft, in what was described as an operational response to escalating tensions with India. Image analysis and archival verification reveal that the photograph had previously appeared in an official Radio Pakistan publication in December 2023. The original image, taken during a joint Pakistan-China naval exercise in the Indian Ocean, shows a formation of Chinese and Pakistani warships with three Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft flying in formation overhead. The same image was used in a 2023 article. The image did not include the submarine seen in the version presented at the press event. This discrepancy strongly suggests that the image was digitally altered before being repurposed. A submarine, likely a Pakistan Navy diesel-electric vessel, was inserted into the image, an addition absent from the original photograph published under the headline "Naval Chief lauds achievements of operational objectives by Pakistan Navy." That article reported on the Fleet Annual Efficiency Competition Parade held in Karachi and featured remarks by Admiral Naveed Ashraf. There has been a deluge of misinformation and disinformation from Pakistan since tensions escalated bwteen the two countries after India's retaliatory move in response to the Pahalgam terroris attack, which killed 26 people. The digital campaign extended beyond social media. Mainstream Pakistani media outlets carried segments reinforcing unsubstantiated claims, often citing unnamed "official sources" and offering little to no visual or documentary evidence.
