Army vows to thwart any misadventure by enemy with full might

The Pakistan military leadership has congratulated nation on the completion of four years of Operation Swift Retort while denouncing a cowardly attack by India on Pakistan under the pretext of false flag Pulwama operation on a fictitious target, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a series of tweets, the DG ISPR wrote: “CJCSC, Services Chiefs & Armed Forces of Pakistan pay tribute to the resilience of nation & resolve of AFs displayed during Operation Swift Retort. Under the pretext of false flag Pulwama attack, India stage managed a cowardly attack on a fictitious target.” 

CJCSC, Services Chiefs & AFs of Pak pay tribute to the resilience of nation & resolve of AFs displayed during Operation Swift Retort. Under the pretext of false flag Pulwama attack, India stage managed a cowardly attack on a fictitious target. 1/3

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2023

Today the nation pays rich tribute to PAF for a befitting response to the Indian violation of Pakistan's air space on the pretext of false flag Pulwama attack. While we aim for peace with all, we are mindful of our duty to defend the country. Let no one make any mistake about it.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 27, 2023

“The daring, resolute & measured response from Pakistan thwarted Indian nefarious designs. Let this day be a reminder that while being a peace-loving nation, Pak AFs are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of motherland, but to take the fight back to the enemy, if ever, aggression is imposed on us. Any delusion resulting into a misadventure will always be met with full might of Pak AFs backed by a resilient nation. Pakistan Zindabad.”

The daring, resolute & measured response from Pakistan thwarted Indian nefarious designs. Let this day be a reminder that while being a peace-loving nation, Pak AFs are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of motherland, 2/3

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2023

27فروری2019کو ہماری حکومت نےبالاکوٹ پر بھارتی فضائی حملےکےجواب میں مقبوضہ کشمیرمیں بھارت کےفوجی اہداف کونشانہ بنانےکےاحکامات دیےاور پاک فضائیہ نے🇵🇰کی حدود میں ایک بھارتی طیارہ مار گرایا جسکا ہواباز گرفتار ہوا۔ہم ایک محدودجوابی حملےکےذریعے🇮🇳کو دوٹوک پیغام بھجوانےمیں کامیاب رہے

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 27, 2023

The Indian Air Force launched an aerial strike near ‘Balakot’ on Feb 26, 2019, claiming to target a religious seminary that New-Delhi described as a “militant camp”. They also claimed killing more than 300 terrorists but without sharing any shred of evidence to corroborate the claims.

The well-rehearsed operation involving 20 Mirage 2,000 aircraft carrying spice 2000 and Crystal Maze missiles had the support of Air Borne Early Warning systems.

They failed to deliver their payload on the target despite practising on the simulator and pre-fed coordinates on the bombs.

Pulwama attack was completely orchestrated, the defense analysts said, questioning that contrary to the usual practice why there were no road inspecting parties to look for buried IEDs/ suspicious movement along the highway the convoy used.

“Why didn’t the authorities understand that a large convoy (78 buses) would be a tempting target? CRPF had asked the home ministry to allow it to fly the soldiers to Srinagar but why the request was inexplicably declined,” said the analyst.

They further posed the question as to how it was possible that the Indian home ministry took this decision (declining airlifting soldiers) on its own without referring it to PM Office.

On other hand, PM Modi wanted to achieve electoral gains which were then scheduled for April/ May 2019 as was evident from his Pakistan bashing fiery speeches during the election campaign.

A hyper-nationalist and religiously indoctrinated political party that spewed fascism and xenophobia would take some ‘punitive’ measures and use the incident as an electoral card since Indian general elections were to be held on that year, the analysts added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Feb 15, 2019, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying that those responsible for Pulwama terror attack would pay “a very heavy price” and security forces would be given a free hand to deal with them.

In a hard-hitting speech, he said the “blood of the people is boiling” and forces behind the act of terrorism will be definitely be punished. “Security forces have been given complete freedom, the blood of the people is boiling…Our neighbouring country, which has been isolated internationally, thinks such terror attacks can destabilise us, but their plans will not materialise,” Modi said in an attempt to create hype over the well-orchestrated plan against Pakistan.

Indian claims were rubbished by several international observers saying there were no casualties and the bombs had clearly missed the target as two trees were found to be snapped in half.

During the short aerial encounter that followed, PAF shot down two IAF aircraft and captured one of the pilots. The debris of the SU-30 fell in IOK and its pilot was killed, while the MiG-21 pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, whose aircraft fell on the Pakistan side was captured alive.

The success of the Pakistan Air Force in Operation Swift Retort against a far bigger adversary is now observed as a “Surprise Day” every year.

Reporter Ahmad Mansoor