Vijay Diwas: Indian Air Force posts throwback pics of Pakistan’s ‘unconditional surrender’ to mark 1971 War anniversary

India is commemorating the anniversary of the 1971 War today. Celebrated as Vijay Diwas, the day marks India’s stellar victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. To mark the December 16 event, the Indian Air Force took to X (formerly Twitter) to share photos of the war, including the famous one of Pakistan’s then Lt Gen Niazi signing the surrender document.

Talking about the decisive role the Indian Air Force played in the war, the post gave insight into the lethal air campaign. In the 13-day war, the IAF carried out over 2,000 offensive missions in the Western Sector and 2,000 sorties in the Eastern theatre. In the words of Lt Gen Niazi, it was the IAF’s dominance that led to Pakistan’s surrender. “The IAF’s dominance in the skies was so impactful that, when questioned about his surrender despite having a largely intact army, Gen Niazi pointed to the IAF insignia on an officer’s uniform and remarked, ‘Because of this—you, the Indian Air Force,’” the post read.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted about Vijay Diwas. Without mentioning the birth of independent Bangladesh, PM Modi lauded the role played by hundreds of soldiers in securing the win. “Today, on Vijay Diwas, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India’s historic victory in 1971. Their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve safeguarded our nation and brought glory to us,” PM Modi said in his post on X.