Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Shaheens were awarded national honours on Thursday for their performance in the May aerial clashes with India, as part of Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day celebrations.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal had earlier said this year’s Independence Day would be marked as Marka-i-Haq (Battle of Truth), referring to the conflict from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the May 10 ceasefire that ended Operation Bunyan um Marsoos. Pakistan rejected India’s claim of involvement in the attack, reports DAWN.
On May 6–7, Indian air strikes killed civilians. In retaliation, PAF downed six Indian aircraft in air-to-air combat on May 7. India’s top general admitted to air losses but denied losing six jets.
At a ceremony in Islamabad, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conferred awards including eight Sitara-i-Jurat, five Tamgha-i-Jurat, 24 Sitara-i-Basalat, 45 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 146 Imtiazi Asnad, 259 COAS Commendation Cards, and one Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military).
PAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed said on May 12 that the response was delivered “at a time and place of our choosing,” showing “bold and unwavering resolve.”
Chinese air chief Lt Gen Wang Gang praised the “decisive and measured” action, while Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed Indian claims of shooting down PAF aircraft, saying Pakistan destroyed six Indian jets, S-400 batteries, drones and disabled several airbases.
France’s air chief Gen Jerome Bellanger said he had seen evidence of three Indian fighter losses, including a Rafale. The Washington Post reported at least two Rafales were shot down, and India’s defence attaché to Indonesia, Capt Shiv Kumar, acknowledged the losses in June.