Pakistan celebrates Surprise Day as tribute to PAF's retaliatory attack against India
Pakistan celebrates Surprise Day as tribute to PAF's retaliatory attack against India.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The government has announced to celebrate ‘Surprise Day’ today (Thursday) as a tribute to the retaliatory attack by the Pakistan Air Force after India’s botched Balakot airstrike.
On Feb 27, last year, the PAF carried out Operation Swift Retort and shot down two Indian Air Force fighter aircrafts and dropped bombs within the compounds of Indian military facilities in occupied Kashmir as a warning to the country’s belligerent neighbor.
The Pakistani military had lived up to its promise to ‘surprise’ India in wake of any misadventure, saying that ‘uncalled-for aggression’ from the Indian military ‘would not go unpunished’.
The operation also resulted in the capture of an Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, after his Mig-21 was shot down. The pilot was later handed over to Indian authorities as ‘a goodwill gesture’.
A ceremony was held at the Air Headquarters where Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan addressed and said that the PAF is and would remain reassuring fundamental of national defence.
A splendid air show was also organised by the PAF at Karachi’s sea view. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Governor Imran Ismail were chief guests in the event. On the occasion, PAF fighter planes JF-17 Thunder and F-16, performed flying maneuvers.
