Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said Pakistan had full confidence in its armed forces that possessed the capabilities of the highest degree to defend the country.
“We are confident that if anyone makes an aggressive move against Pakistan, it would be retaliated by the armed forces with full force,” the prime minister said in his address at the induction ceremony of J10-C fighter aircraft to Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
The ceremony held at Minhas Air Base Kamra was attended by federal ministers, three services chiefs, Chinese ambassador in Pakistan and members of the diplomatic community.
The prime minister said a country could remain free and independent until it was able to defend itself.
He congratulated the nation on the historic occasion of the induction of J10-C aircraft, the medium weight and single-engine fighter jet.
Imran Khan thanked China to deliver the fighter jets to Pakistan in a short period of eight months.
He expressed satisfaction that PAF was fully equipping itself on lines of modern and indigenous technology.
He said Pakistan was heading in the right direction towards development and prosperity.
The prime minister mentioned that the country was witnessing economic growth with record tax revenues and foreign exchange.
He said wealth creation would help the government to strengthen the military capability as well.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu said PAF was prepared and skilled to deter any aggression of the enemy.
He said J10-C was a fully integrated weapon, avionic and combat system and its induction into PAF would further strengthen its professional capabilities.
He said the occasion was the testimony to the will of Chinese leadership and support for Pakistan.
The prime minister flanked by three services chiefs inspected the JC-10 aircraft and sat in the cockpit where he was given a briefing about the jet.
Earlier, the prime minister reviewed the guard of honour as the contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented a salute to him.
The prime minister witnessed a thrilling flypast of various formations of aircraft, including the newly inducted J10-C, F-16s, JF-17s and Mirage that showcased a sophisticated array of avionics and weaponry.
After the flypast, the Prime Minister witnessed the landing of five J10C aircraft that have been inducted in the 15 Squadron.
The J10-C can be equipped with a bigger active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar than the one used by the JF-17 Block 3. The aircraft can carry more advanced, fourth-generation air-to-air missiles including the short-range PL-10 and the beyond-visual-range PL-15.