Air Defense Day is observed across the country

Air Defense Day is observed on Sunday with ceremonies and events across the country to pay tribute to the courage and victims of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during the 1965 war.

As part of the memorials, the PAF quotes visit the tomb to the national hero Rashid Minhas Shaheed to put a wreath and present a greeting in his honor.

Air Defense Day is significant yearly to remember the decisive air battles of the 1965 war, when PAF pilots, despite being persuaded, applied to the Indian Air Force and protected Pakistan’s airspace.

One of the most notable feats of the war was recorded on September 7, 1965, when Skvadron leader Muhammad Mahmood Alam (MM ALAM) shot down five Indian hunting aircraft in minutes, four of them within just 30 seconds. The record remains unmatched in the history of the air fight.

PAF also launched successful strikes on Indian air bases on Pathankot, Halwara and Jamnagar, who paralyzed the enemy’s operations at the conflict itself. Its support for the Lahore and Sialkot fronts proved to be crucial to rejecting Indian grounding.

In early May, under the Pakistan-India clash that escalated since the Pahaldam attack, Pakistan Air Force shot down the Indian fighter jets before a ceasefire was broken by US President Donald Trump.

Officials say the day serves as a reminder of PAF’s heritage from Valor and its continued readiness to defend Pakistan’s sky. Ceremonies held nationwide highlight the victims of the Air Force personnel and the nation’s resilience in conflict times.

At the Air Headquarters, Islamabad, a central martyr -ceremony, became the air manager Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, chief of the air staff, Pakistan Air Force, adorned the apartment as a headmaster. Source: DGPR (Air Force) X Post

President, Prime Minister Pakistan Air Force

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Pakistan Air Force (PAF) for his important role in protecting the country’s sky in the war in 1965.

In his message, President Zardari Paf’s victims and heroism paid tribute to that the day was not only about remembering previous victories, but also about honoring the lasting spirit of service and devotion that defines the strength. “My heart goes out in deep respect for our martyrs and ghazis, whose courage and victims continue to inspire the nation,” he said.

Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan, shares a message with the country on Air Force Day.

He remembered how PAF pilots against overwhelming odds in 1965 showed extraordinary courage and determination and wrote an unforgettable chapter in history. Referring to both the war from 1965 and later operations, including Marka-E-Haq Bunyanum Marsoos, the president noted that Air Warriors had always risen to the challenge and provided a decisive response to the enemy and included pride in the nation.

When he highlighted PAF’s modern abilities, President Zardari said the world had witnessed his remarkable skill and professionalism, as he described as one of the strongest guarantees of Pakistan’s security. He expressed confidence that the air defense would continue to defend the country’s sovereignty with the same decision and passion.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised PAF for his professionalism and strength in air fight for decades. He said the air defense, which worked with other armed forces, had played a crucial role in operations like Marka-E-Haq.

PM Shehbaz shares a message with the country on Air Force Day.

The prime minister added that Air Force Day is acting as a reminder to future generations of the inauguration, determination and mature of Pakistan’s Air Warriors to protect the nation.