The wreckage of Indian pilot Abhinandan’s MiG-21 fighter jet has caused quite the attraction at the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2022 in Karachi.
According to the details, the tail section and other debris of Abhinandan’s MiG-21 fighter jet, which was blown up by the PAF aircraft in a dogfight on February 27, 2019, has been put on display at the defense exhibition.
Tail of #IndianAirForce MiG-21 Bison shot down by #PakistanAirForce F-16 on 27th February 2019 on display at #IDEAS 2022 defence exhibition
Watch also: https://t.co/jaTVVAGBaq pic.twitter.com/U7pZZZfRVI— PAF Falcons (@PAFFalconsPK) November 15, 2022
In February 2019, India invaded Pakistan’s airspace. In self-defense, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) undertook strikes across the Line of Control from its airspace. As a result, it shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while the other fell inside IoK.
Due to his plane being shot down, Abhinandan who was the Wing Commander at the time was arrested by the Pakistani ground forces. Later, ISPR released a video in which Abhinandan acknowledged that Pakistani military officers treated him well. He also gave Pakistan the now-famous line “the tea was fantastic.”
Read more: Abhinandan shot no F-16: Pakistan rejects Indian claims
Pakistan later freed Abhinandan on March 1 as a gesture of peace. However, Pakistan still remembers Abhinandan as the pilot who enjoyed Pakistan’s tea. His iconic line also created many hilarious memes.
Highlights from IDEAS 2022
IDEAS is a defence exhibition that brings together the defence industry’s players across the globe to showcase the latest technological innovations.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurated the 11th edition of the exhibition, which will continue till Friday.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) inaugurated the 11th Edition of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar #IDEAS2022.
Venue: Expo Centre Karachi.#IDEASExhibitionPakistan #IDEAS2022 #ArmsForPeace #BadarExpoSolutions #BXSS pic.twitter.com/ynQNXdjUvJ— IDEAS Exhibition Pakistan (@IDEASPakistan) November 15, 2022
Over 500 international defense manufacturers and over 260 delegates from 64 countries are taking part in the four-day defense exhibition, a leading defense expo in South Asia.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa also visited Karachi to witness various stalls at IDEAS 2022 at Karachi Expo Centre.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief interacted with a cross-section of visitors and delegates and held separate meetings with various visiting delegates including Bahrain, Italy, Sri Lanka, Libya, Zimbabwe, and UAE.
Read more: Indian media celebrates Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s comments about Abhinandan