SOURCE: AFI

In late April 2025, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has significantly ramped up Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) over Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Skardu, signaling heightened alertness in response to escalating tensions with India following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 tourists. Concurrently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a large-scale military exercise named Aakraman (Attack), involving its top-tier fighter jets and pilots, as reported by India Today on April 25, 2025.

Social media posts on X, including those from @OSINTWarfare and @PakSword313, indicate that the PAF has operationalized forward airbases like Saidu Sharif and Skardu, deploying JF-17C Block III fighters armed with PL-10 and PL-15 missiles. This flurry of aerial activity, set against the backdrop of India’s aggressive military drills and diplomatic retaliation, underscores a precarious standoff between the nuclear-armed neighbors, raising concerns about potential escalation.

The PAF’s intensified CAPs over Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Skardu reflect a strategic shift to “offensive defense mode,” as claimed by X user @hassanalavi65 on April 27, 2025. These patrols, involving JF-17 Thunder and possibly J-10CE fighters, aim to maintain air superiority and deter potential IAF incursions. Key observations include:

• Karachi: As Pakistan’s economic hub and a major naval base, Karachi’s airspace is critical. CAPs over Masroor Airbase, home to Mirage squadrons, protect vital infrastructure and counter potential Indian Navy strikes, given Karachi’s proximity to the Arabian Sea. X posts suggest PAF aircraft departing Karachi for northern bases, indicating a redistribution of assets.
• Islamabad and Rawalpindi: These cities house Pakistan’s political and military headquarters, including Air Headquarters and the Air Defence Command. CAPs here, likely supported by Erieye AEW&C aircraft, ensure protection against deep-strike missions, especially after India’s 2019 Balakot airstrike targeted Pakistani territory.
• Skardu: Located in Gilgit-Baltistan near the Line of Control (LoC), Skardu’s Qadri Airbase is strategically vital due to its proximity to Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier. Posts on X, such as by @MilitaryObs2222, report JF-17 sorties over Skardu, with unverified claims of Chinese PLAAF officers and a fighter jet spotted, hinting at Sino-Pak coordination.

The PAF’s activation of Saidu Sharif Airport in Swat, a non-traditional airbase, suggests a multi-front defense strategy, as noted by @saikirankannan on X. This move indicates Pakistan’s fear of a coordinated IAF attack, possibly targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) or military assets near the LoC. The PAF’s High Mark 2010 exercise, which involved operations from Skardu to the Arabian Sea, provides a precedent for such widespread deployments, emphasizing joint operations with the Pakistan Army and Navy.

Simultaneously, the IAF’s Aakraman exercise, launched amid the post-Pahalgam diplomatic fallout, signals India’s readiness for offensive operations. Reported by India Today, the drill involves frontline fighters like Rafale, Su-30MKI, and LCA Tejas, supported by Netra AEW&C and AWACS, rehearsing high-intensity ground strikes across diverse terrains, including mountainous regions.

NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.