Here’s why Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is trending on Twitter once again. The Indian Air Force (IAF) WC has been awarded India’s third-highest military distinction, the ‘Gallantry Award.’
On Twitter, Indians are praising the IAF jet pilot for this historic performance, but Pakistanis have started a meme war.
What is the significance of this honor? India claims to have shot down an American-made F-16 using WC Abhinandan’s Russian Mig-21 during the Balakot incident. The pilot ejected from the warcraft after being struck, and his aircraft was wrecked. The Pakistan Army took him into prison as a result of this.