PAF showed its unparalleled capability, resilience and dominance in Marka-e-Haq, says air chief

Chief of Air Staff Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu on Thursday said Pakistan Air Force (PAF) demonstrated its capability, resilience and dominance in Marka-e-Haq, upholding the glorious unsurpassed legacy. Radio Pakistan reported.

The term “Marka-e-Haq” refers to the 2025 conflict with India, which began with the Pahalgam attack on April 22 and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.

Addressing a ceremony marking the completion of one year of Marka-e-Haq at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad, the Air Chief Marshal said that Pakistan’s resounding success was the result of a unified approach of all elements of national power and the blessings of Almighty God.

He mentioned that the PAF carried out a full-spectrum multi-domain operation for the first time in the history of air warfare. He said the world was stunned to witness this magnificent execution of the PAF operation which was excellently choreographed and impeccably executed, adding that the PAF attacked many high value and high visibility targets.

The air chief said Pakistan’s cyber ‘Shaheens’ destroyed the enemy’s cyber security and while delivering a humiliating defeat to the Indian Air Force (IAF), shot down some of the world’s best fighter jets, the state broadcaster reported. pay television reported.

He said we disrupted the enemy’s power and transportation system, paralyzed their critical operational facilities, shot down most of the modern Rafale aircraft and destroyed a state-of-the-art S-400 battery. He said the enemy was literally on its knees much sooner than we could imagine.

Read: Ishaq Dar calls Marka-e-Haq a symbol of national unity and courage

The air chief said that at the center of this success was the Pakistan Air Force’s own kill chain, which seamlessly integrated all our operational elements into a single formidable force package. Sidhu said the PAF could have gone further, but “we exercised responsibility and applied well-calibrated force.”

Looking ahead, the Air Chief said we remain singularly focused on intensely preparing for future challenges. He mentioned that a range of capabilities in the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park are expanding at an unprecedented pace. He said that there are a number of indigenous projects in the pipeline and they are being pursued vigorously.

He added that the exemplary leadership of the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, played an important role in ensuring the victory, and that the country’s leadership made it possible to achieve these successes.

He concluded that the PAF will always live up to the expectations of the brave and resilient people of Pakistan, ensuring that the PAF will continue to be a symbol of pride for the nation.

Pahalgam and Marka-e-Haq attack

On April 22, 2025, escalation between Pakistan and India began when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected India’s blame.

Read more: Pakistan’s efforts keep ceasefire alive

In response, India took a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, 2025, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), canceling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the closure of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff in each country’s embassies.

Tensions escalated further in the early hours of May 7, 2025, when missile strikes hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

In a swift military response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale jets. The standoff escalated again in the early hours of May 10, 2025, when India attacked several Pakistani air bases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, which damaged Indian military installations, including missile storage sites, air bases and other strategic targets.

On May 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached after intense overnight diplomatic efforts. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India’s Foreign Minister.