MOSCOW – The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has fielded a squadron of newPakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 “Thunder” combat aircraft, according toa recent report by the Associated Press of Pakistan.

The multi-role fighter jets are stationed at Pakistan’s Samungli Base nearQuetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, Sputnik has reported.

Speaking at the February 28 inauguration ceremony of the planes, which formthe Number 28 Multirole Squadron, Sohail Aman, chief of staff for the PAF,said “We totally understand the kind of conspiracies the enemiesof Pakistan continue to hatch, but our resolve is very firm and responsevery clear,” according to a PAF news release.

The multirole aircraft taking off from the Samungli Base is capableof reconnaissance, ground attack and aerial interception missions.

The squadron is tasked with the “responsibility of providing day and nightaerial defence of the country, especially along the western bordersof Pakistan,” the defense official noted.

Earlier this year, Islamabad accused US forces of conducting unmannedaerial vehicle attacks on refugee camps in Pakistan’s western Kurramregion, Sputnik reported. The US Embassy in Pakistan called the chargefalse.

Pakistan is a “peace-loving nation, but we do not want anybody to interfereinto our airspace and territory,” the air chief said.

“We have done whatever is humanly possible on fighting the menaceof terrorism,” Aman said, adding, “Allah has rewarded our effortsby restoring peace in the country.

Last December, Aman “ordered PAF to shoot down drones, including thoseof the US, if they enter our airspace, violating the country’s sovereigntyand territorial integrity.” It appears Islamabad is giving the policy someteeth.

The JF-17 has been developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex andChengdu Aircraft Corporation of China. The Chinese version is known by themoniker Xiaolong or “Fierce Dragon,” but the export version usedby Pakistan has been dubbed the “Thunder.”

While Islamabad is the primary operator of JF-17 jets, Nigeria hasincrementally inducted JF-17s to support “counter-air, counter-surface, airops for strategic effect and air support operations,” according to thecountry’s budget documents for 2018.