Pakistan’s air defence system, which relies heavily on Chinese-made radars, suffered a major setback on Tuesday when Iran launched a surprise attack on its territory, killing two children and injuring three others. The Iranian missiles and drones managed to evade the detection of the Pakistani radars, which were reportedly malfunctioning due to technical glitches.
The attack, which targeted the bases of a Sunni militant group called Jaish al-Adl in Balochistan province, was a retaliation for a previous strike by the group on Iranian soil. Iran’s foreign minister said the operation was aimed at “Iranian terrorists” in Pakistan and denied any violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Pakistan, however, strongly condemned the attack and recalled its ambassador to Iran. It also blocked the return of Iran’s envoy to Islamabad. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the attack was an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace and warned of “serious consequences”.
The incident exposed the vulnerability of Pakistan’s air defence system, which is largely dependent on Chinese technology. Pakistan has been a major buyer of Chinese military equipment, including radars, missiles, fighter jets, and submarines. China has also helped Pakistan develop its nuclear weapons program.
However, experts have questioned the quality and reliability of Chinese weapons, which are often based on reverse-engineered or stolen designs from other countries. China has also been accused of selling outdated or defective equipment to its allies, such as Pakistan, North Korea, and Myanmar.
Pakistan’s Chinese radars, in particular, have been criticized for being prone to errors, interference, and hacking. In 2019, India claimed that it had jammed Pakistan’s radars during an aerial skirmish over Kashmir. In 2020, a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet crashed near Islamabad, reportedly due to a radar failure.
The latest attack by Iran has further exposed the weakness of Pakistan’s air defence system, which could pose a serious threat to its security and sovereignty. Pakistan faces multiple challenges from its neighbours, including India, Afghanistan, and now Iran. It also faces internal threats from various militant groups, such as the Taliban, the Islamic State, and Jaish al-Adl.
Pakistan needs to upgrade its air defence system and diversify its sources of military equipment, rather than relying solely on China. It also needs to improve its relations with its neighbours and crack down on the militant groups operating on its soil. Otherwise, it may find itself in a situation where its Chinese radars go blind and its enemies strike back.
January 19,2024
Source: Mashriq TV