In a retaliatory move by the PAF on February 27, two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft were shot down when they were pounced on by JF-17 Thunders. The result, however, left observers dumbfounded as the PAF emerged as the better player in the field and India had to suffer the embarrassment of losing jets. “India’s armed forces are in alarming shape,” stated the NYT piece. The article further said that funding remains the biggest challenge for the Indian military as most of the budget goes to pay salaries for the million-plus armed forces. Reducing troop numbers is also not a viable option for the Indian armed forces as the military provides jobs to the country, which struggles with chronic unemployment, added NYT.

Source: The Express Tribune March 04, 2019 11:26 UTC