By Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal
September 7, 1965, is not merely a date in the history of Pakistan; it is an eternal symbol of pride, sacrifice, and aerial supremacy. On that day, when India sought to intimidate our beloved homeland with the weight of its numerical advantage, the Shaheens of the Pakistan Air Force rose to the challenge with unmatched determination. The world, including India, witnessed a spectacle of courage that remains alive in memory even today. Among these fearless warriors, Squadron Leader Muhammad Mahmood Alam carved his name into the golden chapters of aviation history. In a feat that stunned the globe, he shot down five Indian Hunter aircraft in less than sixty seconds—an achievement so remarkable that even foreign historians acknowledged it as a miracle of skill and bravery. His triumph was not only a tactical victory but also a declaration that Pakistan’s skies would forever belong to its guardians.
Alongside him stood Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Rafiqui, whose undying spirit made him one of the greatest heroes of the 1965 war. When his guns jammed in the middle of combat, he did not retreat. Instead, he chose to protect his formation and embraced martyrdom while covering his comrades. His sacrifice ensured the success of his squadron and set an eternal example of loyalty to the nation. Flight Lieutenant Yunus Hussain, too, displayed unmatched bravery by downing enemy aircraft at Halwara before embracing shahadat himself. Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed led daring raids into enemy territory, striking their radar installations and crippling their communication. These names—Alam, Rafiqui, Hussain, Muniruddin—are inscribed upon the heart of the nation, reminding us that honour and courage define Pakistan’s defenders.
This proud tradition did not fade with time. Decades later, in February 27, 2019, it was Wing Commander Noman Ali Khan of the Pakistan Air Force who shot down the intruding MiG-21 of Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. In doing so, he carried forward the legacy of Alam and Rafiqui, proving once again that Pakistan’s Shaheens remain ever alert. The image of Abhinandan’s downed aircraft and his capture became a symbol of humiliation for India, while Pakistan stood tall, proud of its defenders.
In May 2025, this spirit of defiance and mastery returned in even greater strength. In the dark nights of that month, when Indian aggression sought to shake Pakistan’s resolve, the skies once again roared with the thunder of our jets. Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos—known as the Battle of Truth—became the moment where courage was married with precision. The Pakistan Air Force downed six Indian jets, including their much-boasted Rafales, and struck at the pride of the enemy by destroying the S-400 missile defence system which India had long flaunted as impregnable. The destruction of the S-400 did not merely cripple Indian strategy; it sent a message to the world that the technological might of others could not surpass the will and skill of Pakistan’s Falcons.
The heroes of this operation were men who embodied the spirit of their forefathers. Wing Commander Bilal Raza, Wing Commander Hammad Ibne Masood, Squadron Leader Muhammad Yousaf Khan, Squadron Leader Muhammad Usama Ashfaq, Squadron Leader Muhammad Hassan Anees, Squadron Leader Talal Hassan, Squadron Leader Fida Muhammad Khan, and Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Ashhad Amir were decorated with the Sitara-e-Jurat for their gallantry. They fought with nerves of steel, turning back every wave of Indian incursion with calculated strikes that stunned military experts worldwide. The nation watched with pride as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself visited Kamra Airbase to honour these warriors, declaring that their deeds had changed the very balance of regional power.
Between May 8 and 10, when India launched coordinated strikes on our airbases—including Nur Khan, Sargodha, Skardu, Murid, and Rafiqui—our Shaheens rose from the flames with unbreakable resolve. Where the enemy sought to cripple us, we answered with strength and precision, turning their vaunted aggression into their deepest humiliation. It was not only a victory of arms but also a moral and psychological triumph, echoing the events of 1965 when the courage of the few overcame the numbers of the many.
The line from 1965 to 2019, and from 2019 to 2025, is not a mere chain of battles but a living testament to the enduring spirit of the Pakistan Air Force. From Alam’s lightning-fast strikes to Rafiqui’s noble sacrifice; from Noman Ali Khan’s downing of Abhinandan to the modern-day Falcons who brought down Rafales and annihilated the S-400—each act of valour has woven a golden thread in the fabric of our national pride.
Today, when Pakistanis look to the sky and see the Shaheen soaring high, they know their guardians are watching, their courage unbroken, their passion undimmed. As in 1965, as in 2019, and as in 2025, so shall it be in the years to come. God willing, the sons of this soil will continue to guard the frontiers of the air with the same resolve, the same madness (Janoon), and the same unshakable faith in their mission. For as long as the Shaheen circles above, the skies of Pakistan shall forever remain free, proud, and inviolable.
