According to a statement issued by Pakistan Navy, it is to receive six such aircraft in batches of two. The first batch was received in 2010, but the planes were destroyed during a 17-hour siege of a key naval base in Karachi last May blamed on the Taliban. The attack killed 10 personnel and deeply embarrassed the military, just three weeks after Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad.
Part of the US foreign military funding (FMF) programme, these P3C aircraft are modified with the latest avionics/sensors. The planes are provided to patrol the Arabian Sea, which is a crucial trade route, but heavily laden with Somali pirates.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, Vice Admiral M Zakaullah welcomed the addition, saying the aircraft would help “maintain the requisite vigil in our vital area of interest in the North Arabian Sea.” He added that the area, an important trade and energy corridor for the global economy, is home to intense maritime activity, legal and illegal, and thus warrants continuous guard. He noted that the planes will help increase the force’s combat capacity. The ceremony was attended by a large number of serving and retired Pakistan Navy personnel.
Relations between the two countries remain tense following a covert operation by the US that killed Osama bin Laden. US airstrikes have killed about 24 Pakistani soldiers since it started its crackdown on the ongoing insurgency. Pakistan had asked for an apology by Obama, but instead an inquiry by the Pentagon stated that the Pakistani soldiers had attacked first; this further vexed the government.
The United States has repeatedly accused Pakistan of not doing enough to counter extremism and terrorist attacks, with its officials often voicing opinions to reduce aid. Pakistan, in turn, has reiterated its loyalty to the cause but condemns activities which disregard the country’s sovereignty.
The Guardian, last year, had quoted a former Pakistani foreign secretary, Dr Humayun Khan as saying “Pakistan can’t really afford to annoy the US permanently and will have to cool down a bit at some stage.”
(With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, February 22nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (32)
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@IndiKid:
You have a blosooming fanthasy...
@Tariq Shah:
Of course USA is your friend
and UK is your friend and we,here,in Germany are your BEST friend,because we BARELY need your natural resources!
CNN is talking day&night about the re-opening of the Silk Road...how glorious this road was in the time,when Marco Polo lived and HOW much it will improve the future of all nations along the Road.
But HEY...Ce la vie! ...say the French...one hand washes the other.
@Burner:
Correct me if im wrong, but my take on the P-3C is that Pakistan already bought the six aircraft. The two that where destroyed ( by Taliban not US ) are not being replaced but rather these next two where just part of that first order. In other words Pakistan is only getting 4 P-3C's.
USA is Pakistan's loving and caring husband.
@Amjad: My friend - the last time that PAF pilots gave a creditable performance was in the 1965 war. In 1971, despite West Pak launching a pre-emptive strike on our airfields (and therefore having the element of surprise at least on paper), PAF lost more number of aircraft. After these wars, there has been no major use of the PAF in the Indo-Pak theatre (while IAF was pulled into extensive use during Kargil) - and I assume that all the 'good' pilots of those wars in the 60s and 70s are long gone - so on what basis do you claim superiority. Air conflict has changed beyond recognition during these 40 years. Ah but then for you guys the glorious periods are always in the past (extrapolated beyond recognition into the future) - so no surprises.
Despite what most Pakistanis say, I think the US is our friend, no one is perfect, we are not perfect friends, but compared to a lot of Muslim countries, even China, the US has given the most to Pakistan, and yet we continue to burn US flags thanks to the hatred spread by the Jamaat e Islami.
Lets appreciate our friends, and know our enemies.
Its All Good! Enjoy!
@fahim:In terms of the PAF's performance, read what most western writers on the subject say on the subject. There is unanimity that the much smaller PAF outperformed the IAF in every major conflict- even when the political and military leadership of Pakistan let them down. Why do you think that most Arab nations hold PAF pilots in such high esteem? As for the JF 17, it is a robust fighter aircraft that makes up for the number gap. It costs a fraction of what the Indians are wasting on western planes but I still feel a PAF pilot in a JF 17 would better any Indian pilot in even a F 35 stealth fighter let alone some soon to be obsolete Rafaele.
They know what the Tort law is...you have to repace,what you destroyed.
pak-america relations are truly very complex! both seem to be following the old saying "keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer".
fyi, Cautious is an Indian (It is natural that he would be against naval surveillance planes that can monitor movement in the arabian sea off of our coast)
we are beggars and not choosers so we should not make comments on the arrival of these old aircraft. We can place them in our PAF museum if they did not work.
@fahim: These aircraft are also used for maritime surveillance and provide surveillance for sea and coastline rescue as well as monitor and report anti-smuggling activities. Also, the length of Pakistan's coastline is irrelevant. These are Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft and can fly thousands of kilometres to hunt enemy subs.
@fahim:
These aircraft are also used for maritime surveillance and provide surveillance for sea and coastline rescue. They have also been used to aid flood relief activities in Balochistan and Sindh provinces. Also, the length of Pakistan's coastline is irrelevant. These are Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft and can fly thousands of kilometres to hunt enemy subs.
After reading tis article, I would do one of the following immediately: 1/ Difa-e-Pakistan is correct about USA and these planes should be returned, or 2/ These planes are good for Pakistan and therefore Difa-e-Pakistan are wrong.
What miracle has happened that there is no USA bashing in the article? And accepting from your enemy. Shame shame. How low can one go?
@Grace: PAF outperforms IAF??? With what? chinese JF 17? that even the chinese have not inducted in their own force due to poor quality?? And the new F16s from US are under legal bond not to be used against India. Get your facts correct by neutral sources and STOP reading pakistan studies. All we are saying is that we have 1050 km shore while India has close to 8500 km with 12 times economy. Karachi port is a sitting duck in front of India's MASSIVE blue water navy, and these few toys will not save it anyways. We can rather use that money elsewhere.
@Grace Yes P-3C Orion is indeed a very quality aircraft lol.
@Cautious: Do you not remember that India tried to attack Karachi and seal off shipping in past wars? The Indians have millions who are starving but they still feel the need to spend billions on weapons. Pakistan's defense expenditures are small compared to India but Pakistan should focus on quality as always. That's why the PAF always outperforms the Indian Air Force.
I am very surprised at this news given the state of our relations with the US.
If I am not mistaken these aircraft are being purchased under a soft loan. They are not FREE. There is no such thing in the world anymore.
Of course their maintenance and up-keep will be the responsibility of the government and come from the defense budget.
First they destroy our planes then force us to buy more... US war industry :/
Well P-3C is very old..India is getting latest Boeing P8I Poseidon. Infact P8 is successor to P3C.
The Pakistan Defense Council (PDC) should ask Govt. to return the F16s. Because those are from infidel
@Cautious: Afgan Taliban or Pak Taliban?
Surprise!!!! Why didn't Deifa - e- Pakistan oppose this move to acquire weapon from the US?
Those who are opposing for their information it is very old aircraft model(and india is getting the latest ) and very useful for conducting naval missions against enemy ships and submarines . Those people are forgetting indian attack on karachi in 71 war .
3...2...1.. And the NATO route is open!
@Cautious: they are very good to use for monitoring India, Pakistan;s first enemy is India who is supporting these Taliban
What possible use can you have for these expensive high tech planes --- monitor illegal fishing or are the Taliban using submarines these days? Further -- just like the last ones they will sit on the ground gathering dust if you don't acquire the technology to maintain and calibrate the sensors. If the USA insist on giving Pakistan military weapons why not give them something they can put to good use -- attack helicopters come to mind.
the price is cut from the developmental budget that US gives us.... why on earth do we need 6 planes when we have such a short coastline to guard and only one port, karachi? More toys for the all powerful while 90% of population is hanging by thread with their degraded de-human life...