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JF-17
“Thunder” (Super Seven) – PAF’s
gift to the nation
new Pakistan-China
Joint Venture.
[Gp Capt (Retd) S M HALI]
On 14th August 1997,
Pakistan Air Force gifted the PAF Museum at Sharea Faisal
on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Pakistan. This
year, PAF has bestowed a different kind of gift to the
people of Pakistan. September 02, 2003 will go down
as a red letter day in the annals of the history of
Pakistan, because on this day, the JF-17 (Super-7) made
its maiden successful flight. The PAF Museum houses
a wide display of weapon systems of the past and exhibits
trophies from the glorious past of a fledgling air force,
which picked up the gauntlet to challenge enemies many
times superior to it whenever the occasion arose and
came out victorious. JF-17 on the other hand is a glimpse
of the future. It portends the glorious potential that
lies ahead. It is the epitome of endeavour, perseverance
and hard work of our defence and technical planners
and workers.
Project Super-7 is designed to meet Pakistan Air Force’s
tactical and strategic needs with the least reliance
on imports from other countries. In addition to that
to design an aircraft that meets its requirements with
maximum prospective for upgrades and with export options.
JF-17 is considered to be a Medium-tech fighter, which
will be the work-horse of PAF....more
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Cyprus
imbroglio
The
Turkish-Greek conflict over Cyprus.
[ANSAR
MAHMOOD BHATTI] |
Anxiety and fear have started looming
large as the date for the accession of Greek Cyprus
to the European Union is drawing near. The much trumpeted
EU eastward expansion will practically take place
in May 2004 when ten new states would join the bloc.
Greek Cyprus will be one of them. The Helsinki EU
Council meeting, held in 1999, had categorically decided
to admit the Greek Cyprus into the Club even without
a solution to the long standing issue. The decision
had greatly annoyed the Turkish as well as Northern
Cyprus governments. The decision will now be implemented
next year.
Ever since the Helsinki summit
and even before that, the Northern Cyprus government
had offered a number of steps for an amicable and
mutually acceptable solution to the issue. Unfortunately,
none of the plans have so far been materialized due
to certain reservations expressed by the both sides.
The Greek Cyprus side is faced with a win-win situation
since they do not have anything to lose in this tug-of-war.
They are internationally recognized and therefore
have full support from the international community.
And above all, they will be admitted into the European
Union from May 2004. While the Northern Cyprus dilemma
is that Turkey only recognizes them. They have been
under embargoes perhaps ever since the start of this
conflict due to which most of TRNC has remained undeveloped.
It is interesting to note that they even are not allowed
to establish their football team. Restrictions on
exports have also multiplied their miseries and dented
a deadly blow to their economy....more
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Shifting
Sands of Afghanistan
Comprehensive
overview of the changing times in this war-torn nation.
[HAMID
HUSSAIN]
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Wran wijar, wijar Afghanistan
winam
Sanga lutye lutye proot kaur da Afghan winam
(I see the shattered land of Afghanistan the looted
home of Afghan is in front of me)
Introduction
After the removal of Taliban in 2002, there was quiet
for a while on Afghan front. United States started its
second military campaign in Iraq in 2003. Last few months
have seen escalating violence in Afghanistan. There
are many state and non-actors performing on the stage
of Afghanistan, which makes any comprehensive analysis
almost impossible. The crisis of Afghanistan is a complex
one as the conflict involves 'internal armed factions
with extensive foreign links, neighbouring states that
pursue competing strategic interests, and ultra-regional
players who have ideological, security, or economic
stakes in the chaos'.1
This article will review present volatile
situation of Afghanistan looking at different players
active in Afghanistan. The article will specifically
elaborate the role played by different state and non-state
elements in Afghanistan. It will also analyze the role
of Afghan individuals and groups and its impact on the
future of Afghanistan. The article will end with possible
future scenarios and its impact on region....more
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| Dynamics
of the Region and Geo-Strategic Thoughts - A Bangladeshi
Perspective [M
SAKHAWAT HUSSAIN] |
Introduction
December 16, 1971, the subcontinent saw yet another
division (not in the same connotation) since the partition
of India in 1947. If partition of India had altered
the Mackindar's strategy of heartland and rim-land
configuration of the region then birth of Bangladesh
out of old entity of Pakistan had further added new
strategic dimension to that configuration. The new
'country' that emerged out of old entity geographically
remained unaltered from that of Radcliffe's infamous
partition over drawing board. Nor the new country
did conform to the geographic divide of old 'East
Bengal' that was partitioned in 1905 remained as such
till 1912 under the British Indian Viceroy Lord Curzon.
Division of Bengal in ethnic line spurred the famous
'Two Nation' theory and independent state for Muslims
of India that saw the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
The then East Pakistan was also product of that 'Two
Nation' theory remained as Muslim Bengal separated
from that of rest of the Bengal that is still known
as West Bengal even when East Bengal ceased to exist.
Partitions of India, till date, brought biggest human
catastrophe in terms of population shift under severe
communal strife. A phenomenon that still haunts the
subcontinent and threatens the fabric and security
of entire region. Unfinished agenda of Partition i.e.
Kashmir issue entangled both India and Pakistan from
midnight 14th August 1947. The issue remains to be
the most contesting agenda for both India and Pakistan
and dangerous destabilizing factor for entire region
till date....more
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