PAF Shaheens Awarded Honours in Marka-i-Haq Victory

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Shaheens were awarded national honours for their decisive aerial performance in the recent conflict with India, during Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day celebrations on Thursday. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conferred the awards at a ceremony in Islamabad, recognising both wartime and peacetime gallantry.

Independence Day as “Marka-i-Haq”

In July, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced that this year’s celebrations would be marked as “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth), referring to the April 22 Pahalgam attack and the May 10 ceasefire that concluded Operation Bunyanum Marsoos. The conflict erupted when India accused Pakistan of orchestrating the Pahalgam attack, a claim Islamabad strongly rejected.

On May 6–7, Indian air strikes killed civilians in Pakistan. In retaliation, the PAF launched precision air-to-air combat on May 7, downing six Indian aircraft and striking strategic targets, including S-400 batteries and multiple airbases, without losing a single Pakistani jet.

Record-Breaking Honours for PAF

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), awards included 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).

The decorated officers included senior commanders, fighter pilots, engineers, and technicians, many of whom were recognised posthumously. Wing Commander Bilal Raza, Wing Commander Hammad Ibne Masood, and Squadron Leader Muhammad Osama Ishfaq were among those honoured for exceptional bravery in combat.

Tactical Edge and International Praise

PAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed described the May 7 response as “bold, aggressive, and executed at a time and place of our choosing.” The operation showcased coordinated electronic warfare, air superiority tactics, and long-range missile capabilities.

Chinese Air Force Chief Lt Gen Wang Gang hailed the performance as “exemplary” and “decisive,” while France’s Air Chief Gen Jerome Bellanger confirmed evidence of at least three Indian fighter losses, including a Rafale. The Washington Post, citing visual analysis, and The Wire, quoting an Indian Navy officer, both corroborated the downing of Indian jets.

Intelligence Miscalculation Led to Rafale Losses

According to Reuters, the downing of Rafale fighters was largely due to Indian intelligence underestimating the range of Pakistan’s China-made PL-15 missiles, fired from J-10 “Vigorous Dragon” jets. Indian pilots assumed they were beyond 150km firing range, not realising the actual capability exceeded 200km, one of the longest recorded air-to-air strikes.

A PAF official said, “We ambushed them,” highlighting how electronic warfare tactics were used to disrupt Indian systems. While Indian officials downplayed the jamming’s effectiveness, military analysts noted that the PL-15’s range and precision left Indian forces unprepared for the strike.