ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force is celebrating Surprise Day today (Saturday) on the occasion of second anniversary of Operation Swift Retort to pay tribute to valiant Shaheens for their brave defence of the motherland while retaliating to Indian Air Force violation of its sovereign territories on this day in 2019. 

The Operation Swift Retort was a rapid response to Indian Air Force strike in Balakot obliterating Pakistan's airspace that had merely harmed a few trees and a wild Crow.

PAF had shot down two Indian fighter jets namely MiG-21 and Su-30 where the former pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was caught by Pakistan Army after his safe ejection and falling into the Pakistani side of the line of control.

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan has said PAF would thwart any misadventure by the enemy and is ready to respond with full force as per the aspirations of the nation.

Addressing a special ceremony on the occasion of second anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, he said our desire for peace must not be misunderstood and in case of any misadventure our response would be swift, resolute and unwavering.

The Air Chief said Pakistan Air Force living up to its legacy yet again made its mark through professional excellence and valour on 27 February 2019.

He also reiterated that we stand with our Kashmiri brethren in their just struggle for right to self-determination. He said it is time to end the atrocities being inflicted on innocent Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan inspected a guard of honour and a flypast, at the ceremony.

Our forces are ever ready to defend the motherland: FM

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Pakistan, two years ago on this day, gave a message to the world that its defence is impregnable.

In his address in connection with February 27, he said this day will always be remembered in the country's history as on this day our valiant air force wrote history demonstrating valour and chivalry.

The Foreign Minister said by shooting down the Indian plane we told the enemy that we have defence capability better than it. And by releasing the captured Indian pilot during tension we gave a message to the world of being torchbearer of peace.

He said we are proud of our forces which are ever ready to defend the motherland.