Pakistan Air Force has added a new gallery named ‘Operation Swift Retort‘ to its museum in Karachi. A whole galley has been dedicated to PAF’s successful air combat operation against India earlier this year in February.
One of the highlights of the new gallery is the life-size statue of downed Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, with his signature mustache, erected at the museum. A symbolic teacup has also been placed in the museum. The remains of his wrecked MiG-21 fighter pilot are also displayed in the museum. A fake mess receipt charging Abhinandan Varthaman for a cup of tea was also framed and put on the display in the gallery.
Operation Swift Retort (27.02.2019) gallery now open at PAF museum Karachi.
Wow Congratulations Your Tweet Framed by PAF in PAF Museum Karachi @JeremyMcLellan pic.twitter.com/89cU6SMaVM— Mr 45 🍒 (@Piyare_l_o_g) November 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/SohailA2525/status/1192806075394904064
On the other hand, the walls of the gallery also carry the photos of the intrepid PAF personnel who smartly executed a retaliatory ‘Operation Swift Retort’ against the Indian Air Force. Their national accolades were hung beside their pictures on the wall of the gallery. The three notable PAF personnel were SQN LDR Hassan Siddiqui, who flew F-16 and was awarded Tamgha-e-Jurat. Wing Commander Faheem Ahmed was awarded Tamgha-e-Jurat and Wing Commander Nauman Ali Khan, who also flew F-16, was awarded Sitara-e-Jurat.
Read more: Pakistanis mock Abhinandan as Indians celebrate his return to IAF
Also, images were set up to explain how PAF struck Indian fighter pilots. A board besides the statue of Abhinandan has been displayed which narrates the incident of February 27th Wednesday. Hilariously, PAF has also framed the tweet of American comedian Jeremy Mclellan trolling the Indian Air Force following their botched airstrike against Pakistan.
February 27th was the defining day in the history of India and Pakistan Air Force when the air forces of both the country engaged in an aerial dogfight after 50 years. Pakistan registered a resounding victory against its nemesis. Pakistan not only shot down India’s two fighter pilot but even captured Abhinandan Varthaman, Indian Wing Commander, after he survived a crash.
There is now actually a mannequin of Abhinandan in there😂
"Operation Swift Retort" gallery now opens at PAF Museum #Karachi. #TeaIsFantastic #Shroop https://t.co/64m6YgDKw1
— Mujahid Ahmed-🦅🇵🇰 (@CallSignMujahid) November 10, 2019
He was safely taken into custody. Later, PAF released his video of sipping the tea from the cup and answering to light-hearted questions from Pakistan’s armed forces. He was, however, released as a peace gesture within two days of his arrest. Abhinandan, however, became a topic of heated discussion on social media.
Indian Twitter users, however, have strongly reacted to Abhinandan’s statue erected at the PAF museum. Since they hail Abhinandan as their ‘national hero’, they called PAF’s act as disgracing their national icon.
Pakistan Air Force museum in Karachi showcases the watch, uniform and remains of Indian Air Force jet downed and captured by PAF #Abhinandan statue and a tea cup is also there
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) November 12, 2019
Should India put up 90000 statues in a museum and col Niazi's statue on Special Pedestal?? Third grade theatrics by Pakistan Army. Shameful. Abhinandan is a soldier too…he should be honoured not shamed. Stood rock solid and faced enemy's interrogation professionally.
— ~Manoj Ravi (@manojravi35) November 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/KapsJosh/status/1193873847742693376