Naya Pakistan, neighbor. No nonsense please- or you go back jaw-broken. A statue of an Indian pilot whose plane was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) over Indian-occupied Kashmir earlier this year has been put on display in Karachi.
Varthaman’s plane was shot down in a dogfight over the disputed Himalayan region in February during clashes which brought nuclear-armed India and Pakistan to the brink of a new war. After his capture, the Pakistani military released a video showing him sipping a cup of tea and politely refusing to answer questions.
The exhibit includes parts of the fuselage and tail of Varthaman aircraft, a Mig-21, as well as a tea mug — though apparently not the same one the pilot was seen sipping from. The gallery also contains images re-enacting the moment his plane was shot down, and photographs showing him being handed back to India at the Wagah border crossing.
A mess receipt jokingly charging Varthaman for the tea — at the cost of one Mig-21 — is also framed in the exhibit. Images of the mocking receipt went viral in the days after his capture. The museum stands inside a recreational park for young people in Karachi, complete with decommissioned aircraft and other military hardware.
However, India media has called it a “new low”. How is that a new low? Facts are facts. Indian air force came into Pakistan airspace unprovoked with the aim of striking supposed targets which later were revealed by international press agencies as empty buildings. No terrorists found period. Shame on india for even attempting such a monumental breach of international protocol.
Pakistan had the right to defend itself and it did. Varthaman was rightfully shot down and captured. Respectfully detained and questioned and released. This unprovoked attempt by india brought the nations at war so it is historic and deserves mention in the museum. Pakistan’s gesture to release the combatant pilot was goodwill.Tension Escalates After Pulwama Attack
Indians have bragged about their SU-30MKI from here to hell gates, they tried to create fear by the sheer number they have in IAF. It is mind-boggling IAF did not deploy this fighter, and if they did they lost it in spite of the fact this plane had much longer range BVR than anything PAF had in its inventory. It is considered the epitome of Russia’s technology and F16 is one full generation older than this plane is no match is a great mystery as no Indian questions or talks about. It is like someone (PAF) has zapped their thinking ability or is it plain old Indian style denial combined with arrogance and ignorant, a lethal combination? My hats to those PAF pilots for such scintillating performance.
