Indian Air Force Pilot Abinandan Varthaman was awarded a Vir Chakra, the third highest gallantry award in India, on Monday. Reacting to this a day later, the Pakistani Foreign Office called it a “classic case of Indian fabrication and pure fantasy.”
Varthaman was captured by Pakistan on February 27, 2019 after his MiG 21 Bison was shot down during an aerial standoff with Pakistani pilots. He was released shortly after by Pakistan and returned to New Delhi on March 1, 2019. After that, he was promoted from wing commander to group captain. Varthaman was awarded for “showing conspicuous courage” in downing a Pakistani F16 before he was forced to eject into Pakistani territory. He was also lauded for his “exceptional sense of duty” and demonstrating gallantry “while disregarding personal safety.”
Since the 2019 incident, Pakistan has repeatedly denied India’s claim that a Pakistani aircraft was downed during the standoff. Reiterating this on Tuesday, the Pakistani Foreign Office’s statement “categorically rejected” the Indian version of the incident. The release asserted that United States officials supported this claim after taking stock of Pakistan’s F-16 aircraft.
It further said: “India’s insistence on propagating a lie that has been thoroughly exposed is ludicrous and nonsensical. Granting military honours for imaginary feats of gallantry is contrary to every norm of military conduct. By giving such an award, also as an afterthought, India has only made a mockery of itself.” The statement also celebrated Pakistan’s decision to release Varthaman as a “testimony of Pakistan’s desire for peace despite India’s hostility and ill-conceived aggressive action.”
According to Pakistan, the Indian MiG 21 was struck down in Jammu and Kashmir, and an SU 30 aircraft was downed on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). The statement said that following this, the Indian Air Force was in a “state of panic” and shot down its Mi-17 helicopter. It recalled that India was “completely outplayed” and establishing a “farcical story” to satiate domestic audiences.
The 2019 incident came in the aftermath of a suicide attack in Pulwama in the same month that resulted in the killing of 40 soldiers; India claimed that Pakistan orchestrated the attack. On the other hand, Pakistan claims that the attack was carried out by local Kashmiri militants. Since then, the two countries have engaged in a consistent back and forth, blaming each other for inciting violence and unrest in their territory.