On Feb 27, 2019, Pakistan shot down an Indian plane and captured its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan and Twitter hasn’t forgotten it. The retaliation was in response to Balakot strikes that India conducted in Pakistan to destroy an alleged terror camp in Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
To mark the downing of the Indian plane, Pakistan had announced to celebrate ‘Surprise Day’ on February 27 as a tribute to the retaliatory attack by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) after India’s Balakot airstrike.
On Feb 27, 2019, the PAF carried out Operation Swift Retort and shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft and dropped bombs within the compounds of Indian military facilities in occupied Kashmir – as a warning to the country’s belligerent neighbour.
The Pakistani military had lived up to its promise to ‘surprise’ India in wake of any misadventure, saying that ‘uncalled-for aggression’ from the Indian military ‘would not go unpunished.
PM Imran Khan also congratulated the entire nation on the second anniversary of Pakistan’s response to India’s military adventure.
I congratulate the entire nation & salute our Armed Forces on the 2nd Anniversary of our response to India's illegal, reckless military adventure of air strikes against Pakistan. As a proud & confident nation, we responded with determined resolve at a time & place of our choosing
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 27, 2021
We also demonstrated to the world Pakistan’s responsible behaviour in the face of India's irresponsible military brinkmanship, by returning the captured Indian pilot. We have always stood for peace & remain ready to move forward to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 27, 2021
MEMES GALORE:
The capture of the pilot and his subsequent video released by Pakistan has become a butt of many a joke: ‘Tea is fantastic’ most famous among them. Abhinandan was freed by Pakistan on March 1 as a peace gesture, but he has left many meme trends in his wake.
So today, Twitter is buzzing with Abhinandan-related trend again. ‘HappySurpriseDayIndia’, ‘WorldsBiggestTeaParty’, ‘Abhinandan’, and BalakotAirstrikes topped Twitter on the second anniversary of India’s defeat in the dog fight.
Paying homage to one of the great pilots in the history.?
— Ali Hassan (@AliHass87777848) February 26, 2021
Prize of mig-21= A cup of fantastic tea..#Abhinandan pic.twitter.com/l58JmyilQo
#HappySurpriseDayIndia
— Tariq Javed (@Haidri17) February 27, 2021
Tea was not only fantastic but most expensive so far.@Pak_Guardian pic.twitter.com/Fu7wIwa4t3
#HappySurpriseDayIndia
— shafqat shaikh (@shafqatnaz5) February 26, 2021
Happy 2nd anniversary to Abhinandan ji ,The Tea Man pic.twitter.com/fFNr2zwD6F
On this day we should not forget the martyrs of indian air strike at #Balakot#BalakotAirStrike#Abhinandan pic.twitter.com/rC9W95gUQ7
— Sanam (@Sanam_sana1) February 26, 2021
#WorldsBiggestTeaParty #27FebDayOfFantasticTea
— Qurat-ul-Ain (@Quratulain_abru) February 26, 2021
We shall surprise you… pic.twitter.com/s6i6G78GpB