Retired SSG commando exposes Pakistan Army propaganda, tells truth of Balakot Airstrikes by IAF

New Delhi: A recent statement by a retired officer of the elite commando regiment of the Pakistan Army - the Special Services Group (SSG) - has exposed the lies and fake publicity of the Pakistani estalishment regarding the Balakot air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) following the Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir in 2019.

What did the Pakistan Army officer say?  

"Major Moiz...Syed Moiz Abbad Shah Shaheed, may Allah elevate his status. Moiz and I were standing outside our barracks. Around 10 o'clock, we heard sounds like a plane passing close by. Then the sound disappeared, but for 3-4 minutes, the sound continued to linger in the air. It seemed like a plane. And then the sound suddenly became louder."

Recounting this incident, Pakistan Army SSG Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Umair Bangash becomes agitated. The tension of Operation Balakot is clearly visible on his face.

Detailing that morning of February 27, 2019, Umair Bangash becomes tense and, pointing with his finger, says, "A piece of debris came in front. It was from a Bison. It was from a MiG-21. When it came, the canopies opened; there were three canopies. One was in the front and two were behind."

Pay attention. Pakistan Army SSG Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Umair Bangash himself says that three parachutes opened. He witnessed this with his own eyes.

One parachute belonged to Abhinandan, and whose were the other two?

This statement by the Pakistani Army officer has exposed Pakistan, which has been repeatedly trying to suppress a lie for the past seven years. This is a lie: Pakistan claims that its F-16 fighter jet was not shot down in the India-Pakistan clash on February 27, after Operation Balakot.

If Indian Air Force Captain Abhinandan did not shoot down the F-16, then who were the two parachutes in the three parachutes seen by Umair Bangash, Commanding Officer of Pakistan's Al Shamsham Battalion, who was present at the scene, making an emergency landing from his fighter plane?

Commanding Officer Umair Bangash clearly stated in an interview that the first parachute that arrived belonged to a MiG-21. After this, three parachutes opened, one of which went far ahead. Captain Abhinandan of the Indian Air Force was in this parachute.

How has retired SSG commando embarrassed Pakistan?

But the remaining two parachutes contained the two commanders of Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets, a claim Pakistan never acknowledges. However, in this video, Commanding Officer Umair Bangash clearly stated that three parachutes opened.

It should be noted that the MiG-21 is a single-seater fighter jet, meaning only one pilot can fly in it. India has acknowledged that Captain Abhinandan crossed the Line of Control while chasing Pakistani Air Force aircraft. During this, he shot down a Pakistani F-16. Subsequently, the two pilots on board the F-16 had to eject. The two parachutes visible to Commanding Officer Umair Bangash belonged to the F-16 pilots.

But Pakistan, which disowns its officers, never admits that Captain Abhinandan shot down a Pakistani F-16. But Commanding Officer Umair Bangash has exposed Pakistan in this interview.

Umair Bangash, a retired Commanding Officer from the Pakistan Army, said, "In February 2019, I was on the LoC. I was the CEO of the Al Shamsham Battalion. It was a lifelong memorable moment for us."

This military officer further stated that he was deeply disturbed when he saw three parachutes falling from the sky. He continued in the interview, "I said, 'What kind of a trend have they started? The night before last, they killed trees and crows in Balakot, and now what's this? They've shot down our plane...' or what has happened?"

"Moiz was with me. He said, 'Sir, I'm leaving.' I said, 'Leave, and I'm sending the QRF after you.' He ran to the site and arrived."

This video has been uploaded by IDU on X.

What is the story of Balakot aistrikes?

Operation Balakot, conducted on February 26, 2019, was a response to the Pulwama attack of February 14, 2019, when a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber attacked a Central Reserve Police Force  (CRPF) convoy, leading to the martyrdom of 40 CRPF soldiers. 

In response, India, using Mirage-2000 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF), crossed the Line of Control in the dark of night and carried out a precision airstrike on a major Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan. Hundreds of terrorists were killed in this attack.

The next day (February 27, 2019), Pakistan attempted to retaliate by launching an airstrike on Indian territory under Operation Swift Retort. An air dogfight ensued between the two sides. Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman crossed the LoC, chasing the Pakistani Air Force. He shot down a Pakistani F-16 from a MiG-21 Bison. Two commanders were ejecting during this time.

However, during this time, his own plane was damaged and he had to land across the Line of Control. During this time, he was captured by the Pakistan Army. However, after a direct warning from India, Pakistan released him with honor on March 1.