At the time of the Balakot airstrike, Abhinandan was posted as Wing Commander in the current Air Force, who has been promoted to Group Captain.
When Indian Air Force Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind, Pakistan was once again stunned. After the Balakot airstrike, Abhinandan Varthaman showed bravery and shot down an F-16 fighter jet of Pakistan. But Pakistan keeps shying away from accepting this truth in front of the world and lies again and again about it. After being awarded the Vir Chakra to Abhinandan Varthaman, Pakistan has once again shown its fury and rejected India’s claim.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “Pakistan categorically rejects the completely baseless Indian claims that a Pakistani F-16 aircraft was shot down by an Indian pilot before being captured by Pakistan. The case of honoring the Indian pilot clearly shows that India wants to please the people of its country and hide its embarrassment.”
Pakistan has said that giving military honors for “fictional acts” of gallantry is against the norm of military conduct. Pakistan said that India’s false story obviously has no credibility before the international community.
Abhinandan shot down Pakistani F-16
After the Balakot airstrike, Pakistani Air Force planes violated the Indian airspace. After this, the then Wing Commander Abhinandan of the Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistani F-16 with his MiG-21. During this, his plane crashed and fell into the Pakistani border and the Pakistanis caught him by lying. However, in the face of Indian diplomacy, Pakistan had to abandon Abhinandan.
Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday, 22 November for this indomitable courage. The ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also participated. The Vir Chakra is India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, after the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra.
Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal was also awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously. Let us inform you that martyr Major Shankar Dhoundiyal had killed five terrorists. His mother received this award from the President. Veer Prakash Jadhav was also awarded the ‘Kirti Chakra’ posthumously for killing terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Vir Chakra: This award is the third-highest award given in time of war. It is given for the exceptional valor shown by the soldiers and their sacrifice. It is also given posthumously. Made of silver, this medal is given with blue and orange colored lace.
Kirti Chakra: The medal in ‘Kirti Chakra’ given for gallantry of soldiers is made of silver and it is circular. Its lace is green in color, on which two straight lines of orange color are made.
Shaurya Chakra: Shaurya Chakra can also be given posthumously. This honor given for gallantry comes after ‘Kirti Chakra’ in preference.
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