Mushaf Air Base, Pakistan: With an olive green head scarf poking out from her helmet, Ayesha Farooq flashes a cheeky grin when asked if it is lonely being the only war-ready female fighter pilot in the Islamic republic of Pakistan. Farooq, from Punjab provinces historic city of Bahawalpur, is one of 19 women who have become pilots in the Pakistan Air Force over the last decade - there are five other female fighter pilots, but they have yet to take the final tests to qualify for combat. I dont feel any different. We do the same activities, the same precision bombing, the soft-spoken 26-year-old said of her male colleagues at Mushaf base in north Pakistan, where neatly piled warheads sit in sweltering 50 degree Celsius heat. A growing number of women have joined Pakistans defence forces in recent years as attitudes towards women change. Because of terrorism and our geographical location its very important that we stay on our toes, said Farooq, referring to Taliban militancy and a sharp rise in sectarian violence. Deteriorating security in neighbouring Afghanistan, where US-led troops are preparing to leave by the end of next year, and an uneasy relationship with arch rival India to the east add to the mix.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:55:41 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015