Nation celebrates ‘Surprise Day’ as tribute to PAF

Islamabad: The nation celebrated Surprise Day on Saturday to pay tribute to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) for downing an Indian fighter jet piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in 2019.

On February 27, 2019, 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’.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on the occasion of second anniversary of Operation Swift Retort is celebrating February 27 as Surprise Day to pay tribute valiant Shaheens’ for their brave defence of the motherland while retaliating to Indian Air Force violation of its sovereign territories on February 27, 2019.

The celebration ceremony of Surprise Day was held here at PAF Headquarters. The Operation Swift Retort was a rapid response to Indian Air Force strike in Balakot obliterating Pakistan’s airspace that had merely harmed a few trees and a wild Crow.

The PAF giving a resounding response had carried out air strikes at six multiple locations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and engaged its counterpart in a dogfight whereas it was first ever incident after 1971 when both the rival forces had attacked each other’s territory.

The PAF had shot down two Indian fighter jets namely MiG-21 and Su-30 where the former’s pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was caught by Pakistan Army after his safe ejection and falling into the Pakistani side of the line of control (LoC).

The Indian Air Force Wing Commander was soundly beaten up by mob of local people where the Pakistan Army troops rescued him and was later handed over to India as a peace gesture.

The PAF Shaheens proved their mettle and dominance in air warfare domain and made the self-bragging Indian Air Force realise the consequences of daring to enter Pakistan’s airspace.