Military imbalance in region has no significance: Yousaf

* IDEAS-2004 concludes with defence demonstration

KARACHI: Vice Chief of Army Staff, General Mohammad Yousaf Khan said that a 10-year defence plan to end the arms imbalance in the South Asia region was being implemented, on Friday.

“The military imbalance in the region holds no significance for Pakistan,” he said while talking to the reporters on the last day of the IDEAS-2004 exhibition at the Sonmiani firing range.

“Pakistan wants to surge ahead in the balance of power for which a 10-year action plan devised by President General Pervez Musharraf is being implemented,” said Gen Yousaf.

The 3rd international defence exhibition IDEAS 2004 concluded following a demonstration of domestically manufactured weaponry and an aerial display by the Pakistani Air Force fighter and trainer jets at the Sonmiani firing range.

The concluding session of the 5-day exhibition began with the demonstration of the Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar tanks’ firepower and accuracy. This was followed by a demonstration of an anti-tank missile system, which accurately hit all its targets. In another display, a domestic mine field system was used to electronically dismantle and detonate landmines laid out in the area.

The aerial display began with the flight of an A-511 banner aircraft. This was followed by an aerobatics display performed by the domestic Super Mushak and Karakoram-8 aircraft.

The PAF pilots showed their skills by manoeuvring on the F-7P jets. The manoeuvre demonstration was followed by a target show by the Mirage-III fighter aircraft.

The audience cheered when the F-16 MK-84 and F-16 MK-82 dropped missiles and hit their respective targets.

It was announced at the demonstration that the Integrated Defence System (IDS) had developed an Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (UAV), HADDAF-1, which was capable of rivalling any international target drone in terms of speed and performance.

“Global Positioning System and the capability to cater for target practice of both missiles and rounds, make HADDAF-1 an ideal and economic choice for any military force seeking to train its personnel in air defence,” said Gen Yousaf. Gen Yousaf praised the skill and technical command of the men involved in the demonstration.

He said the firing skill was the most significant quality of the military without which their men would be useless on the battlefield.

Gen Yousaf said he had attended demonstrations foreign armies of more developed nations, but the firing skill and command of technical accuracy showed by the Pakistani army was commendable. agencies

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