Pak Air Force 'modifies' plans for India's Cold Start doctrine

The Pakistan Air Force has modified its plans to effectively counter India's purported 'Cold Start' war doctrine, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has said.

The PAF's plans were modified within its existing infrastructure in view of India's new doctrine, Suleman was quoted as saying by the media on Tuesday.

The Indian Air Force had been given a "very crucial and critical" role in the Cold Start doctrine, he contended. Suleman, however, did not provide any details about the changes in PAF's plans while speaking to reporters at Shahbaz airbase at Jacobabad in Sindh on Monday.

India has repeatedly denied reports that it had adopted a 'Cold Start' strategy that was recently highlighted in a WikiLeaks document by former US ambassador to New Delhi Timothy Roemer. The strategy reportedly envisaged quick strikes on enemy targets without giving much time to the rival army to hit back.

Suleman said following the induction of new F-16 Block 52 combat jets and airborne warning and control system aircraft (AWACS), the PAF was "more capable" of countering any external aggression.

"We have received the last batch of 18 F-16 Block 52 jets, which have better technical and operational capabilities as compared to our neighbouring air force," he said in an apparent reference to the Indian Air Force.

When Suleman's attention was drawn to India's purchase of modern weapons, he said the PAF was ready to meet all challenges and thwart any aggression.