During a special visit to Kamra Airbase, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) personnel for their critical role in a recent national defence operation. He stated that the PAF had downed six Indian fighter jets—not five as previously reported—emphasising that this demonstrated Pakistan’s strong defence capabilities and dispelled misconceptions about the country being weak in military strength.
On the occasion of the visit to Kamra Airbase, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and top civil and military leadership.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met and greeted the falcons of the Pakistan Air Force, who established Pakistan’s air superiority by destroying Indian aircraft during the Battle of Haq.
According to the statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Kamra Airbase and met the falcons of the Pakistan Air Force who shattered the enemy’s sense of superiority in one of the longest air battles of the 21st century.
It may be recalled that on April 22, 2025, India started blaming Pakistan after the Pahalgam incident, after which the frosty relations between the two countries became tense.
India had announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, restricted Pakistani diplomatic staff, while cancelling the visas of Pakistanis in India and sending all Pakistanis, including children, who were going for medical treatment, back home.
The Prime Minister further said that the Shaheens shot down not five but six enemy jets and also shot down drones. The enemy is many times bigger, and in recent times, he has spent hundreds of dollars to buy the latest weapons and told the world that he is a ‘Thanidar‘, but our Shaheens smashed the idol of the Modi’s ‘Thanidari‘ on the evening of May 10. No one will indulge in such arrogance and conceit for the rest of the world.
He said that our Shaheens have created history in a few hours which friends and enemies will continue to read until the Day of Judgment. Three enemy Rafales were shot down in the war and this battle was won by our Shaheens. Modi will remember the target of Rafale by our Shaheens till the Day of Judgment and the world will remember it.
The Prime Minister said that to protect the geographical borders of the country, our armed forces fought this war with their lives at the risk of their lives, and Allah Almighty granted this great victory.
He said that the difference between us and the enemy in this war was that we did not leave the path of patience and tolerance, and decided that the enemy would give a thoughtful response to the arrogance with which he rejected our peace offer.
He said that the enemy martyred our young children, but our forces targeted the enemy’s military installations and made mistakes along the way.
The Prime Minister said that we want peace, but the enemy should not consider it as our weakness. I want to tell the enemy that your war fever has subsided. Now talk about peace, we are ready for it, and you know very well the necessary conditions for this peace, that the Kashmiris must be given their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN resolutions.
He added that the movement in Kashmir will continue until the Kashmiris get their right. Let us sit down and talk about it so that this issue, which can ignite the fire of war at any time, can be resolved.
He further remarked:
“The entire nation takes immense pride in the valour and vigilance of its Armed Forces. Under the capable stewardship of the Chief of Army Staff, our defenders have once again underscored that Pakistan’s security is inviolable, and any act of belligerence will be met with a forceful, resolute, and unforgiving response.”
Highlighting the Pakistan Air Force’s operational success, the Prime Minister added:
“Confirmation of successful downing of a sixth Indian aircraft on the night of 6/ 7 May, a Mirage-2000 near Pampore east of Srinagar, is further a testament to the PAF’s combat excellence and the unflinching resolve of our Armed Forces to protect the motherland at all costs.”
He lauded the visionary leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, acknowledging his pivotal role in modernizing the PAF and spearheading the seamless integration of advanced technologies that have significantly enhanced the Force’s operational capabilities.
In a tribute to the airmen, the Prime Minister observed:
“To our fearless pilots and dedicated air personnel—your courage and precision embody the indomitable spirit of Pakistan’s Armed Forces. You have stood resolute, upholding the sanctity of our skies and defending the sovereignty of our country with unwavering resolve.”
Reaffirming the government’s and nation’s collective determination, the Prime Minister concluded:
“Pakistan’s Armed Forces remain fully prepared and resolutely committed to defending every inch of our territory. Any aggression will be countered with a timely, proportionate, and decisive response. We stand united, vigilant, and unshakable for the defence of our homeland.”
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was received by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M).
In response, Pakistan had termed the illegal suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a declaration of war, restricted Indian diplomatic staff, cancelled the visas of all Indians except Sikh pilgrims, while cancelling all trade with India and closing the airspace to Indian flights.
Later, India launched missile attacks on 6 places, including Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh and Muzaffarabad on the night of 6 and 7 February, resulting in 26 civilians being martyred and 46 injured, to which Pakistan responded by taking immediate defensive action and downing 5 Indian warplanes, including 3 Rafale aircraft.
India targeted three Pakistani airbases with missiles and drones on the night of February 10, after which Pakistan launched ‘Operation Banyan Marsus’ (Iron Wall) in response to Indian aggression early in the morning and destroyed several targets in India, including Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur airbases and several airfields, as well as the Brahmos storage site and the S-400 missile defense system.
Security sources had said that the targets were targeted at the airbases from which the people and mosques of Pakistan were targeted.
According to security sources, Operation ‘Banyan Marsus’ was launched against the enemy at dawn, and Fatah-1 missiles were fired at India.
Similarly, the Brahmos storage site in the Beas area was destroyed by Pakistani missiles, while the Pakistan Army also destroyed the airfield in Pathankot, and the training centres of the Indian military intelligence that carried out terrorism in Pakistan in Rajouri and Nowshera were also destroyed.
