Asif Farooqi [BBC News Urdu]
English Translation: Terminal X DeskAfter a lethal drone attack that killed several innocent civilians and tribal elders in North Waziristan recently, the aerial surveillance of Pakistan has been further strenghtened. The Pakistan Air Force has been put on high alert for this purpose.
Sources in the Pakistan Air Force told BBC that during an emergency briefing between Thursday and Friday, some orders were issued which included suspension of all pilots who were on leave.
Apart from this, the regular weekend breaks for the officers and their crew in all affiliated bases and centres have been called off. Even at the PAF Headquarters in Islamabad, all staffers have been strictly told to be present on Saturday and Sunday.
Sources also inform that alongside these developments, certain changes have also been brought forth for Pakistan's Operational Forces and its operatives which have been kept classified. These changes are for the continuous aerial surveillance of the tribal areas and their borders.
Sources say the focal objective of these actions include giving an immediate response to any further presence/entrance of drones in the region.
An official in the PAF refused to acknowledge/deny this report.
Upon the BBC's inquest, the PAF's spokesperson said that the verdict of Pakistan's Air Chief is the same as it was a year ago, which reflects today's events
Pakistan's Air Chief Rao Qamar Suleiman had said a year ago that Pakistan's Air Force can shoot down the drones immediately if orders are given.
We remind our readers of the strict notice which the Navy Chief of Pakistan took of the illegal drone attacks on Pakistan's tribal jirga.
While strictly condemning these drone attacks, Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had said, "It is very unfortunate that innocent civilians including elders of a peaceful jirga were carelessly and callously targeted".
General Kayani had said that protection of the people of Pakistan is of primary importance at all costs.
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