Pakistan puts its Air Force & defence on alert amid fears of Indian retaliation

In a significant escalation of military posture, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has deployed its advanced Saab Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft near the Indian border, following the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22. The strike, which claimed at least 26 lives—mostly tourists—has shaken the subcontinent and raised fears of an imminent retaliatory action by India.

The Erieye AEW&C system, mounted on the Saab 2000 platform, is one of Pakistan’s most sophisticated surveillance tools. Capable of detecting and tracking enemy aircraft, cruise missiles, and ground threats from long distances, its deployment underscores the gravity with which Pakistan’s military leadership is treating the current situation. The aircraft is reportedly patrolling airspace spanning from Rajasthan to the Jammu sector, signaling a clear intent to maintain 24/7 aerial surveillance in anticipation of a possible Indian response.

Social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), has been abuzz with unverified claims of massive PAF activity. These include activation of several air bases, redeployment of combat and support aircraft from the Southern to the Northern Air Command, and using Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) platforms to monitor Indian military communications. While these claims remain officially unverified, they mirror similar posturing seen during the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot standoff.

The terror attack in Pahalgam—described by authorities as the most deadly since Pulwama—has been claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a known proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The brutality of the strike, in which terrorists allegedly targeted victims based on religion, has drawn international condemnation and sparked domestic outrage in India, with calls for strong military retaliation growing louder by the hour.

Pakistan’s military establishment, aware of the intense pressure on India’s leadership, appears to be preemptively positioning its assets. Analysts believe the movement of Erieye AWACS and ELINT systems is not just defensive but also strategic, enabling real-time monitoring of Indian Air Force movements and facilitating a faster response in case of escalation.

This military alert comes amid provocative rhetoric from Pakistan’s top brass. General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Army Chief, recently reignited tensions by referring to Kashmir as the country’s "jugular vein"—a phrase historically associated with aggressive stances on the disputed territory. His comments, combined with the PAF’s escalatory maneuvers, suggest Pakistan is not ruling out the possibility of a swift and decisive Indian counter-strike.