Lost asset: ‘P3C Orion can’t be replaced anytime soon’
Informing PAC’s sub-committee on defence during a meeting held in Parliament House, Iqbal said that tense US-Pak relations are a major hurdle in acquiring the planes as they are manufactured in America and cannot be ordered from any other country. “It will take some time to replace the lost asset,” he said.
In May, terrorists destroyed two P3C Orion planes parked in the PNS Mehran Base in Karachi in one of Pakistan’s deadliest terrorist attacks on a military installation. Earlier last week the Pakistan Navy moved its main battleships away from Karachi, to another port in Ormara, Balochistan, as security threats continued, sources in the navy said.
The navy had sent its warships away from its main base in Karachi as a “precautionary measure” after a 16-hour siege of its main naval airbase, PNS Mehran. The commando-style gun and rocket-propelled grenade attacks had resulted in the destruction of two P3C Orion airplanes – which were key naval assets.
Meanwhile chairperson of the PAC committee, MNA Zahid Hamid, also inquired about production of J F Thunder planes. Pakistan Air Force authorities said that so far 26 Thunder planes have been manufactured in Pakistan with China’s cooperation, adding that a huge budget is required for Pakistan to manufacture the planes on its own.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2011.
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@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: Kashmir may not be important for Pakistani people, but it is certainly for the Pakistani army and the Jihadi factory as its their life line. Kashmir dispute is a big business for these people. Be assured, Kashmir will never get resolved as that will amount to closing many shops. Kashmiri politicians and Huriyat leaders make money from India, Pakistan and Arab countries. Why should they want Kashmir issue to be resolved? Kashmir will consume Pakistan and will still remain unresolved.... If this is what Pakistanis want, then best of luck..
@M Akthar
Not sure if your comment was an attempt at sarcasm, if so it was brilliant.
But, If you were serious, that was a pathetic line of reasoning! Nations don't 'sacrifice' their women/children so China be pleased and help in future!
@: arvind: Kashmir is on the Top of the Agenda item how can we forget it. Pakistan will keep on Moral support for Kashmiri brothers till they get their independence from the shackles of India.
@ Zain Kamran: For Oil and Gas discovery, first seismic survey is made to estimate potential areas for drilling and not by planes. This is done by specialize Seismic equipments and not by planes.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi
Johannesburg - South Africa
@Salman: lol yeah .. thought some joke would bring a smile on them faces ;) cheers! p.s if this was true then shell, caltex and bp would have been using these since early the times. =D
@M.Akthar:
You are off your your tree!
"Pakistan is only Islamic country with the Nuke & we have helped Bahrain/Jordan/Saudi at different times. We helped them crush the Shia Uprising in Bahrain, in Zias days, we cleared the PLO`s & even controlled the uprising in Saudi mosque seize."
The statement you have given above qualifies Pakistan and its leaders to be implicated in War Crimes. Rather then condemn the actions of autocratic and corrupt thieves who have left their you people from global mainstream, Pak. govt. condones this behavior by sending mercenaries to put down democratic movements in Middle East. If most Pak. citizens think like you; than the Pakistan deserves to be ruled by corrupt leadership with NO democracy.
Why in the World should the USA sell you Orion's? You guys have short memories since you obviously forgot all the anti USA rhetoric implying that it was the USA who attacked your Naval air base. Lastly -- you don't use the Orion's in the fight against terrorist -- you use them in your conflict with India - India is not the enemy of the USA. I suggest you buy your anti submarine weapons from China.
A friend told me that the army was using this Pc-3 Orion planes to discover oil reserves. Recently,. before the attacks, it was found that the biggest oil reserve of ASIA is just 150km away karachi harbour .. America didn't wanted Pakistani scientists to know about such natural reserves and that is why they somehow destroyed those planes that had( special tech for oil discovery). the point is, why would the terrorists only destroy the PC-3's ? there might be other planes and heli's aswell ?
@Zahid Qureshi: Has anyone ever resigned in Pakistan??? There is Ghairat deficit, when it comes to this issue in Pakistan !!!
Why on the earth our Army/Navy should be given such an expensive equipment to play with. Forget about using it, they are not capable enough to protect it... spend this money on Education and building infrastructure for R&D, instead of building these useless assets and Askari empires...
@Ishtiaer Hussain: your r right dear. India is never seen pakistan as a rival. But Pak always says that We make atomic power because india Has them. So please solve our internal problem but not create for other. Shayad Ek Din Hum Saab Ek Ho Jaya
if they were so precious for Pak Navy they should have been protected and if Pak Navy failed in it the Navy chief must resign
the PNS deserves it they have been totally incompetent and deserve to suffer for the lack of planning they do not deserve to wear the PNS uniform they have shamed our country. How can we be sure that Pakistan armed forces can take care of our NUKES? huh? These ppl are sleeping on the job. Shame on all of you.
@Rana Asghar: Yes ! Try telling that to people running the country !!!
If only Pakistan can live in peace with India.... simply forget K word.
What about basic needs of this country?
We do not need these toys but EDUCATION for masses!
P3C Orion airplanes takes time to be built. Even though US has promised to give us upgraded P3C Orion airplanes, but we have to wait for that as the lead time is long. These planes are crucial for Pakistan Navy and defence of Pakistan.
We will wait for them no big deal - - -
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg - South Africa.
It is misleading for the Express Tribune to keep referring to Pakistan’s surface ships as capital ships.
On the heels of showing the alleged presence of German military forces at Shamsi, the Express Tribune’s insistence on misleading its readers makes it harder to consider the important news that the Express Tribune conveys every day.
Once an error has been detected, it should be corrected immediately and readers informed. That’s how the Express Tribune can maintain confidence and trust – its most valuable assets.
Our Army must demand Aid from China for sacrifices they have done for Chinese. Pakistan must explain to China that Pakistan is an effective deterrant to India & also Pakistan has gifted part of AK China. They have even attacked Lal Masjid & killed many womens and children for the chinese. Even slaughter innocent uighers in china, we haven
t drawn international attention. Its time for China to return the favours. This apart, Pakistan is only Islamic country with the Nuke & we have helped Bahrain/Jordan/Saudi at different times. We helped them crush the Shia Uprising in Bahrain, in Zias days, we cleared the PLO`s & even controlled the uprising in Saudi mosque seize. Its now time for all these countries to support in difficult economic times. Pakistan will raise, inshallah.lol! time to send one of our beggars to China. Lets see if they can feed us some Orion's. (not Onions!)
I just feel sorry for the country. What a state we have been driven into.
We Pakistanis, common people, can eat grass but won't compromise on forces' budget. Education, health care, clean drinking water, empowerment of common man etc are minor issues.
@Mirza:
Dear they don't have time for that. Didn't you notice that they are keeping an eye on Karachi situation for which they are more concerned as it might contain an opportunity in disguise. If you know what I mean.
Even if the country has extra money to buy them "again" they better find a big enough safe deposit locker for their safe-keeping. The basic education, healthcare, Hep B vaccine, power generation, and other civil needs can wait, as low priority item.
Pakistan is no longer in a position to maintain a strong and viable military force. The present military budget is breaking the back of the economy and cannot be sustained for much longer without massive military aid from the US. But the US has already suspended such aid.