Pak capable of shooting down US drones, but it could ignite war: PAF chief

Islamabad, May 29 (ANI): Pakistan has said that it is capable of shooting down US Predator aircrafts operating inside its geographical territory, but fears that such a step could ignite a war between both the countries.

Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the passing out parade at the Risalpur Air Force Academy, Pakistan Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said PAF is capable or shooting down US drones, but the final decision in this regard rests with the government and Parliament.

"We had shot down a US spy plane near Kasur in 2002," Suleman said.

Concerned over India's acquisition of the Air Warning and Control System (AWACS), he said such steps would lead to an arms race in the region.

Suleman claimed that Pakistan has the technology to counter India's move.

"We have every technology to reply India in a befitting manner," The Nation quoted Suleman, as saying.

He stated that Pakistan would also acquire its own AWACS technology by October.

Pakistan would also get 500 American Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, Suleman added. (ANI)