Rawalpindi: Pakistan stands for peace but when challenged, shall response with full might, said military’s media wing in connection with second anniversary of Operation Swift Retort also celebrated as ‘Surprise Day’.

According to Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar, February 27, 2019 is a testament that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will always defend the motherland against all threats with the support of the nation.

It added that it is not numbers but the courage and will of a resilient nation that triumphs in the end.

The DG ISPR said that Pakistan stands for peace, however, the country shall respond with full might when challenged.

27th Feb, 2019 is testament that Pak AF, with support of the nation, will always defend the motherland against all threats. It is not numbers but courage & will of a resilient nation that triumphs in the end. Pak stands 4 peace but when challenged, shall respond with full might

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2021

On February 27, 2019, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out Operation Swift Retort and shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft and dropped bombs within the compounds of Indian military facilities in occupied Kashmir – as a warning to the country’s belligerent neighbor.

The Pakistani military had lived up to its promise to ‘surprise’ India in wake of any misadventure, saying that ‘uncalled-for aggression’ from the Indian military ‘would not go unpunished’.

The operation also resulted in the capture of an Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, after his Mig-21 was shot down. The pilot was later handed over to Indian authorities as ‘a goodwill gesture’.