Today Pakistan is celebrating the 2nd anniversary of ‘Operation Swift Retort, or ‘Surprise Day’ as a tribute to a retaliatory attack by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on a botched Indian attempt to strike in Balakot on February 27, 2019.
The Operation Swift Retort was a rapid response to the Indian Air Force strike in Balakot obliterating Pakistan's airspace that had merely harmed a few trees and a wild crow.
On Feb 27, 2019, the PAF giving a resounding response had carried out airstrikes at six multiple locations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and engaged its counterpart in a dogfight whereas it was the first-ever incident after 1971 when both the rival forces had attacked each other’s territory.
The Indian Air Force Wing Commander was soundly beaten up by a mob of local people where the Pakistan Army troops rescued him, he was later handed over to India as a peace gesture. The rapid turn of events that day raised up uncertainties that the historical animosities between India and Pakistan could steer the two rivals toward another military confrontation. However, the PAF's careful response prevented further escalation.
The PAF Shaheens proved their mettle and dominance in the air warfare domain and made the self-bragging Indian Air Force realise the consequences of daring to enter Pakistan’s airspace.
Many analysts believe that India failed miserably to establish its image as a superior military force in the region whereas, in that episode, Pakistan successfully paved its position as a responsible nuclear state.
On the diplomatic front, Pakistan boosted its overall international image by releasing the Indian pilot, wing commander Abhinandan, who was captured on that day and became a popular for his comments about tea in Pakistan.
Within 48 hours Pakistan emerged as a peacemaker while India was exposed as an aggressor.
The main ceremony of Surprise Day was organized in PAF Headquarters at Islamabad earlier today.
The Deputy Chief of Airstaff Operations, Air Marshal Haseeb Paracha is called upon to narrate the plans and events as to how 27th February became a historic day to the Pakistan Airforce and Pakistan itself too.
He gives a disclaimer stating that he is representing the group of Airstaff whom as a team, wholly contributed to their comeback towards the enemy. Every member of the Airstaff fully carried out their responsibilities and thus all the credit goes to the team as a whole.
Leading to the 26th of February, we, Pakistan Airforce had diplomatically, militarily, though our posturing precaution them, that they will receive a befitting reply to whatever they had planned.
The message that Pakistan will not silently sit hand in hand when faced with their antiques was sent to them in many and possibly all ways, even though Pakistan’s Diplomatic core representatives.
On the night of 26th February, when these aircraft were spotted at 3 am, they were not only in one place but indeed 4. They were in the Sircreek area, Rahim Yar Khan area, Fazilka Sector, and 20 of their aircraft, out of which 12 were Miraj-2000 and the remaining 8 being Su-30 were seen in the Kashmir area.
The Sun that arose on the 27th of February brought happiness where at the retirement scope the controllers took action and killed them.
Rana Ilyas is an air defence controller. He witnessed the attack; he mentions that he was enjoying the view of Indian forces panicking who were taking swift and comprehensive action thinking that the Pakistani force has attacked their airbases.
In that chaos, the Indian force forgot that the helicopter that was approaching them was, in fact, Indian but due to panicking they thought it was a Pakistani helicopter and blew that up using the surface-to-air missile.
Discipline, rules of engagement, and professionalism are the key aspects of this successfulness.
Following the Pulwama incident where over 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers were killed, the IAF fighter jets violated Pakistani airspace near LoC and were chased away by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets on February 26.
“Today our platforms complemented by advance precision weaponry follow illustrate a successful realization of our home-grown technological pursuits alongside we place special emphasis on human resource development and force multipliers in making the robust architecture of Pakistan Air Force.”
He said PAF is a “hard-hitting” force and “focused on its mission.”
My comrades while I assure the Pakistani nation on the preparedness of PAF to counter threats we will not compromise on the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Pakistan.
Remember, professionally we are second to none. Along with other services, PAF remains poised for the defence of Pakistan.