IN May 2025, South Asia teetered on the brink of full-scale war after a deadly attack in India-occupied Jammu & Kashmir left dozens dead, triggering a sharp military escalation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.
Over four tense days, both sides exchanged missile strikes, drone attacks and artillery fire.
India launched “Operation Sindoor,” striking targets over 100 km deep into Pakistan in an attempt to dismantle alleged terrorist infrastructure and project military strength.
In a significant and widely acknowledged show of strength, Pakistan shot down six Indian aircraft, including Rafales, Su-30 and MiG-29 and other fighter planes.
This feat was achieved through a combination of indigenous JF-17 Thunder jets and J-10C fighter aircraft, developed in strategic collaboration with China.
Pakistan’s use of advanced missile systems and air-defence networks demonstrated its growing technological capabilities and exposed critical vulnerabilities in India’s defence systems.
While Indian forces claimed limited success, independent assessments—including from international media and military experts—acknowledged Pakistan’s clear supremacy in the confrontation.
Its ability to repel deep strikes and inflict significant damage on high-value Indian assets reversed the strategic narrative.
It wasn’t just battlefield bravery that won the day—it was the result of decades of investment in research, development and science-based policymaking.
Behind Pakistan’s defence readiness lies the untold story of R&D—driven by the relentless dedication, brilliance and perseverance of Pakistani scientists and researchers.
This victory was not only a result of battlefield bravery but was made possible by the hard work of our scientific community, who toiled for decades to develop the technological capabilities that now define Pakistan’s strategic edge.
The successful use of indigenous fighter jets like the JF-17 Thunder and sophisticated missile technology is the direct outcome of sustained research, development and innovation.
This triumph underscores the critical role of scientists and researchers, whose efforts in advancing aerospace, defence and engineering sciences have made Pakistan a formidable force in the region.
It is through visionary STI policies—crafted and implemented by expert institutions like the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST)—that this R&D ecosystem was nurtured.
These policies created the conditions for long-term planning, resource allocation and international collaboration, particularly with China, which allowed Pakistan to develop its own high-performance defence technologies.
The country’s sole scientific policymaking institution — is under threat of closure.
This would be a severe setback to Pakistan’s long-term national interests, weakening the foundation of both security and economic development.
Other nations recognize the value of strong STI institutions: China’s Made in China 2025 embeds STI in national planning for technological self-reliance.
South Korea invested heavily in R&D through its Ministry of Science and ICT, producing global leaders like Samsung.
Japan’s Council for STI ensures policies align with national priorities including defence and energy.
Malaysia introduced a 10-year STI strategy to drive innovation-based growth.
These models show that rational STI policies are critical to national strength, enabling technological progress, economic resilience and defence readiness.
Pakistan’s recent military success was not just due to bravery—it was the result of indigenous technologies like the JF-17, built on years of research and collaboration, especially with China.
Behind this readiness lies the untold story of our scientists and researchers, whose R&D efforts — enabled by effective STI policies — gave Pakistan a strategic edge.
Institutions like PCST, envisioned by pioneers like Prof.Dr.Abdus Salam and Prof.Salimuzzaman Siddiqui and advanced under leaders like Dr.S.T.Naeem, played a vital role in shaping these achievements.
Their work laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s transition to a knowledge-based economy and strengthened our defence capabilities.
Closing PCST would mean dismantling this foundation.
Instead, Pakistan must strengthen STI governance, empower its scientific community and invest in evidence-based policy.
The future of our national security and economic progress depends on it.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad. (tariqali@hsa.edu.pk)
