Pakistani Air Force Intercepts and Repels American Aircraft - Reports

On November 20th a U.S. military aircraft was reportedly intercepted while attempting to enter Pakistani airspace, although the nature of the interception remains uncertain with American sources having yet to comment. The aircraft was reportedly based near the Omani capital Muscat, but while approaching Pakistan’s Karachi region it failed to provide the required clearance codes. Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have markedly cooled in recent years, while Islamabad has improved ties to neighbouring Tehran, Moscow and particularly Beijing. Conflict over the nature of American involvement in Afghanistan and the suspension of American military aid to Pakistan have been key sources of tension. Pakistan has notably increased its deployments of advanced fighter aircraft near the Afghan border in the past to draw a hard line against potential U.S. intrusions into its airspace, and major policy disagreements were evident during recent meetings between the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and U.S. President Donald Trump particularly in relation to Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s shift away from the Western Bloc has been closely reflected in the composition of its inventory, with Western hardware formerly central to the country's defence from Mirage III and F-16 fighters to Agosta Class submarines and Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates being eclipsed by newer Chinese platforms including JF-17 Block II fighters, Type 039B Class submarines and Type 054 Class frigates.