During Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day celebrations, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Shaheens received national honours in recognition of their outstanding aerial performance in the recent conflict with India.
In July, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal designated this year’s Independence Day as “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth), referring to the conflict from April 22, which began after the Pahalgam attack, through the conclusion of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, ending in a ceasefire on May 10. While India accused Pakistan of initiating the conflict without evidence, Pakistan strongly denied the claims. On May 6–7, following air strikes by New Delhi that resulted in civilian casualties, the PAF responded decisively by shooting down six Indian aircraft in air-to-air combat on May 7. India’s top general acknowledged air losses but denied the six-plane figure.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has conferred the prestigious Sitara-e-Jurat on eight of its pilots for demonstrating extraordinary courage during combat missions against Indian forces.
Pilots from No. 15 Squadron achieved six confirmed aerial kills and executed two successful… pic.twitter.com/6Dl1tfCEeJ
— Photo News (@PhotoNewsPk) August 14, 2025At a prestigious ceremony in Islamabad, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conferred awards recognising both wartime and peacetime achievements. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported the following honours were awarded to PAF officers and enlisted personnel:
- 8 Sitara-i-Jurat (Star of Courage)
- 5 Tamgha-i-Jurat (Medal of Courage)
- 24 Sitara-i-Basalat (Star of Valour)
- 45 Tamgha-i-Basalat (Medal of Valour)
- 146 Imtiazi Asnad (Mentioned in Dispatches)
- 259 COAS Commendation Cards
- 1 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) (Medal of Excellence)
The list of awarded PAF officers includes Wing Commander Bilal Raza and Wing Commander Hammad Ibne Masood among the Sitara-i-Jurat recipients, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Ehsan Ulhaq among the Sitara-i-Basalat awardees, and Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf (Shaheed) among the Tamgha-i-Basalat honorees, among many others who demonstrated courage and valor.
On May 12, PAF Director General Public Relations Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed announced that the Pakistan Air Force timed its response strategically and demonstrated “bold, aggressive, and unwavering resolve,” showcasing the strength of Pakistan’s military leadership.
Chinese Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Wang Gang praised PAF pilots for their exemplary performance during the aerial engagement, commending their decisive and measured actions under firm leadership.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif affirmed that Pakistan did not lose a single aircraft, while its forces shot down six Indian jets, destroyed S-400 air defence batteries, and neutralised several unmanned aerial vehicles, in addition to disabling multiple Indian airbases.
International observers reinforced these claims. France’s Air Chief General Jerome Bellanger confirmed evidence of Indian aircraft losses, including a Rafale fighter. The Washington Post, citing expert analysis of visual evidence, reported that PAF pilots downed at least two French-made Indian aircraft. Similarly, Indian Navy Captain Shiv Kumar acknowledged the loss of Indian fighters but explained that political directives from New Delhi restricted the scope of India’s military response.
A Reuters investigation revealed that Indian intelligence underestimated the reach of Pakistan’s PL-15 missiles used in air combat, leading to the effective ambush of Indian Rafale jets by PAF’s J-10 fighters. The electronic warfare tactics deployed by Pakistan further hampered Indian pilots’ situational awareness.
Air warfare experts recognise the PL-15 missile strikes as one of the longest-range air-to-air kills recorded, highlighting the advanced capabilities demonstrated by Pakistan Air Force pilots.
