Chapter 131: The President Arrived

  "The enemy plane has turned around and hasn't entered our airspace, be aware that it's patrolling along the border line, don't cross over." The voice of the ground guide came through the headset, Captain Kamal of the 15th squadron let out a sigh.

  The J-6 has flown to the border line, Kamal pushed the control stick to the right and stepped on the right rudder pedal. The agile J-6 made a turn and headed north, starting to patrol along the border.

  Although the Soviet planes seemed to have flown away, it is still necessary to pay attention to the possibility of a low-altitude surprise attack by the Soviets. Pakistan's air defense radar cannot detect aircraft in mountainous areas at low altitudes.

  At the same time, they had joy in their hearts, without firing a shot, they overpowered the Soviet Air Force on morale, and the Soviets flew away voluntarily!

  The Soviets flew away without a large-scale air battle! The news reached the headquarters, and Musharraf finally breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Muhammad, who had just finished drinking a cup of milk tea with a calm expression.

  "Mahmoud, are you so sure that the Soviets won't engage us in a firefight?" Musaaff asked.

  "War is not in our interest, nor is it in the Soviet's interest," Mohammad said. "We are worried about India's intentions towards us, and the Soviets are no less concerned about the West. The Soviets will not invade us on a large scale before pacifying Afghanistan."

  Muhammad's words made Musa Af's eyes shine, just half an hour ago, Musa Af thought Muhammad was just a tactical commander, his vision couldn't see the strategic level, and he didn't expect that Muhammad could see further than himself!

  Not good. The real exchange of fire with the Soviet Union does not conform to our own strategy, and it is also of no benefit to the Soviets! The focus of the Soviets is in Europe after all! The Afghan war has been fought for so many years, and the 40th Army stationed in Afghanistan has always been a secondary force, while the elite troops on the European front line have not been mobilized at all.

  "Good!" Musa said: "This confrontation has enhanced the prestige of our Pakistan Air Force, and dealt a blow to the arrogance of the Soviets. The commendation from Islamabad will come soon, Chief of Staff. You'll be sharing the credit, this time I'm also going to receive an award."

  If a real air battle had occurred, Islamabad might have taken the matter seriously. As the initiators of the conflict, Muhammad and Mushaf would have been punished, but now that things have ended smoothly, with the Pakistan Air Force emerging victorious and having tested the limits of the Soviets, Islamabad must be very pleased.

  "Commander, our air force is too outdated, relying on J-6 and Mirage 3 to fight against the Soviets. It's really at a disadvantage." Muhammad didn't show any excitement for the upcoming award, instead he looked worried, not like his calm self just now.

  The F-6 is already outdated. With a nose air intake, not even a radar, although it still has some advantages in close combat, but in medium-range battles, it is completely at a disadvantage, and the importance of medium-range battles will only increase in future aerial warfare. The Pakistani Air Force has always been at a disadvantage in terms of equipment.

  "Taking this opportunity, I will request the Secretary of Defence to deploy F-16 fighter jets that are about to be inducted into the air force at Peshawar Airbase first," Musharraf said.

  In the later years, PAF Base Bannu was always a stronghold of the F-6, undertaking the important task of defending against the Soviets until 1986 when changes began to take place. The combat with Soviet air force also started after 1986, before that Pakistan had been avoiding contact with the Soviets.

  But with the arrival of Muhhamad, everything changed. Under Muhhamad's command, the J-6 and Su-24 engaged in their first aerial battle, giving the Soviets a taste of being shot down. History had been accelerated.

  F-16, the aircraft with an air intake on its belly, which is still considered to be a good-looking American-made fighter jet, was the result of the honeymoon between the US and Pakistan under the stimulation of the Soviet Union. However, after the end of the Afghan War, the Americans immediately changed their attitude, tearing up the contract for the purchase of 60 more F-16s, which were supposed to be delivered as part of the Peace Gate-4 deal. The Americans neither delivered the aircraft nor returned the advance payment, displaying a thoroughly rogue attitude.

  This is a strategic result of the United States, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Americans have placed their main imaginary enemy on the head of Eastern countries, India and Eastern countries are completely hostile, so the American scale began to tilt towards India, while Pakistan became an ally with Eastern countries, at this time, India is obviously more in line with the interests of the United States than Pakistan.

  "We also need new fighter jets," Mhammad said. "F-16 is just a light fighter jet, and our skies in Pakistan require a heavy-duty fighter jet to guard."

  The F-16 is just a low-end fighter paired with high-end in the US Air Force, if it's just to guard Pakistan's skies, then light fighters are enough, but if you want to dominate South Asia, then long-range, heavy-duty air-to-air combat aircraft are necessary.

  "The Americans will not sell us the F-15." As if he knew what Muhammad was going to say, Musharraf said: "This is the most important warplane of the Americans, only sold to their closest allies, such as Israel. We are not enough, even if America wants to sell, those old men in the Senate will not agree."

  "It's not the F-15, the US still has a batch of mothballed F-14 fighters, Grumman is very headache about these planes, hoping to find a buyer, they are all ready to use." Mohammad said: "Especially with this kind of plane carrying ultra-long-range Phoenix missiles, we can even launch them within our own territory and directly shoot down the Soviet planes that just took off from Bagram!"

  F-14 Tomcat, a masterpiece of Grumman Corporation, the pride of US Navy, fleet air defense power, adopting computer-controlled fully variable swept wing heavy fighter jet, carrying four Mach unkillable Phoenix missiles, is an invincible existence.

  Just a few years ago, the United States and Iran were allies. For Iran, the US was always obliging, and only wealthy Iran had enough power to choose the expensive Tomcat fighter jet. The first batch of 80 aircraft has been delivered, and Iran's order saved the cost-overrun Tomcat and Grumman Corporation. Unfortunately, during the production of the second batch of Tomcats, a revolution broke out in Iran, the regime changed, and it became an enemy of the United States.

  If those fighter jets are brought over, Pakistan's skies will become a copper wall and iron fortress!

  Muhammad's eyes lit up, just as he hadn't detailed the benefits of this powerful fighter jet yet, the phone rang.

  Musha Af picked up the phone and his expression changed instantly. He stood upright and solemnly said a few yeses in succession.

  Putting down the phone, Musharraf's expression remained serious. Muhammad couldn't help but ask: "Commander, what's wrong?"

  "The president is coming to Peshawar." Musharraf said: "The helicopter has already taken off."

  The President is coming! Muhhamad was also shocked at the moment, until now, Muhhamad was just a chief of staff in a military region and had never been to Islamabad, let alone met the President of Pakistan. To Muhhamad, that was an existence high above him.

  Now, just after the conflict with the Soviet Air Force, the border is still not peaceful. At this time, the President of Pakistan personally went to the front line of the conflict, which shows that this president who came from the military has great courage.

  A medium-sized helicopter was flying in the sky, its rotor stirring up the air and making a loud humming noise. The soundproofing of the helicopter's cabin was not very good, and the roar was stimulating to everyone's eardrums.

  A nearly sixty-year-old man with a still spirited appearance sat there, his hair combed very smoothly, his two eyes shining brightly, his eyebrows curved, and his small mustache, which couldn't be described as cold.

  "Mr. President, the situation ahead is unclear, and if you go forward like this, it may be dangerous. The area is all mountainous, and who knows, Soviet planes might sneak up on us." Another middle-aged man beside him said.

  Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the current President of Pakistan, is a key figure in military politics. He participated in wars with the British army in his early years and later took part in two Indo-Pakistani Wars, accumulating rich combat experience and becoming an important figure in the military. A few years ago, he launched a military coup, executing then-President Ali Bhutto and ending civilian rule to restore military politics.

  Regardless of the election outcome, two years ago Zia-ul-Haq started a three-year economic plan and Pakistan's economy has made great strides since then. He is now highly regarded by the people.

  For someone who has been on the battlefield since childhood and comes from a military background, he is not afraid of any danger. When he heard that the air force had confronted the Soviets at the border, Zia-ul-Haq hastily ended an economic meeting, boarded a helicopter and rushed to Peshawar.

  The entourage mainly includes Defense Minister Murodjon Azimov, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Sherali Mirzo, and Secretary of Defense Abdusalom Mirzoyev.

  The one who just spoke is Mullah Fazlullah, it's too dangerous to go to Peshawar, before boarding the plane, he had expressed to Zia-ul-Haq that he could go and let the President stay in Islamabad, but the President refused his request.

  "Yes, Mr President, it's too dangerous there. Pakistan can't afford to lose you. You should go back." Hillary also said.

  "What do you say we should do about this incident?" Zia-Haq asked them.

  How to deal with it? The Cabinet Defense Committee forbids engaging in combat with the Soviet Air Force, at most only driving them away. However, an air battle broke out in the Peshawar Military Region, and a Soviet plane was shot down, which led to the Soviet planes coming for revenge. If viewed from this perspective, the Peshawar Military Region is suspected of disobeying orders...