‘Shamsie airbase not under PAF control’
US military had used the “Terrain Masking Technology” in the May 2 top-secret operation in Abbottabad.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) deputy chief has said that the Shamsie airbase in Balochistan is not under their control as it was funded and constructed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Briefing an in-camera session of both houses of Parliament on Friday, Air Marshal Muhammad Hassan told lawmakers that the US military had used the “Terrain Masking Technology” in the May 2 top-secret operation in Abbottabad that had killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. It was the first use of this technology that has astounded the world.
He said that the US stealth helicopters managed to evade Pakistani radars because they flew between two mountains. He added that the Pakistani military came to know about the incident after one of the helicopters crashed.
The deputy air chief said that the American helicopters had returned before the PAF scrambled its warplanes. He added that the PAF monitors the country’s airspace round-the-clock but the American helicopters evaded them due to their superior technology.Agencies
With additional input from news desk
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2011.
Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) deputy chief has said that the Shamsie airbase in Balochistan is not under their control as it was funded and constructed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Briefing an in-camera session of both houses of Parliament on Friday, Air Marshal Muhammad Hassan told lawmakers that the US military had used the “Terrain Masking Technology” in the May 2 top-secret operation in Abbottabad that had killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. It was the first use of this technology that has astounded the world.
He said that the US stealth helicopters managed to evade Pakistani radars because they flew between two mountains. He added that the Pakistani military came to know about the incident after one of the helicopters crashed.
The deputy air chief said that the American helicopters had returned before the PAF scrambled its warplanes. He added that the PAF monitors the country’s airspace round-the-clock but the American helicopters evaded them due to their superior technology.Agencies
With additional input from news desk
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2011.