US sanctions better for Pakistan's sovereignty: Air Chief

[Naveed Yaseen]

http://jang.com.pk/jang/mar2009-daily/17...ate.htm#60

Sanctions boost indigenous capability: Tanvir
Noor Aftab
Military embargoes and sanctions in the past failed to defeat the determination and instead paved the way for further generating indigenous capability to defend our air borders, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad said here on Tuesday.

He was addressing the launching ceremony of a book titled ‘The Pakistan Air Force 1998-2008: A New Dawn’ written by a prominent writer Allan Warnes.

“Every kick we got in the shape of embargoes and sanctions, we moved forward relatively faster towards our destiny,” he said.

The air chief said that the history must be captured as it always provided an in-depth knowledge and helped evaluate the past and present scenarios.

Underlining the importance of the book, he said, if anyone goes through the book, he would certainly get a very clear and actual picture of the professional capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force.

He said “Those books which are published in black and white colour often fail to catch the attention of the readers. But if a book carries colourful presentations, beautiful pictures and printing, it attracts the readers a lot.” Referring to some of the pictures given in the book, he said, the pictures provide a comprehensive account of the history of the PAF, saying, “Pictures always provide a real and independent version of the state of affairs.” He lauded the efforts of the author who conducted a lot of research and visited so many places to secure information and contents for the book.

Professor Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad of the International Relations Department of the Quaid-i-Azam University said the theme of the book is a journey towards destiny in the face of sanctions and unfavourable circumstances. “The military sanctions pushed us towards joint production of fighter planes and generating indigenous capability. So these had always been a blessing in disguise for all of us,” he said.

He said nothing is static in weaponisation as warfare tactics are changed time and again, adding, “This book depicts various stages in the process of modernisation of the Pakistan Air Force”.

Air Commodore Sarfraz Ahmad Khan said when he presented the idea of launching the book last year, the air chief marshal directed “the book should have independent opinion and you should not dictate but only facilitate the author.”

Zafar Nawaz, assistant professor at the Department of International Relations at the Quaid-i-Azam University, said the book gives a clear reference that the PAF is highly capable to keep the skies safe from the enemy.

Alan Warnes, the author of the book, said that he first visited Pakistan in 2001 as part of his visits around the world to get firsthand knowledge of air force capabilities. He said it was a tedious task but the coordination and cooperation extended by the PAF officials greatly helped realise the dream of launching the book into reality.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=167798