The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Western Air Command (WAC) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar, who led the IAF airstrike in Pakistan in wee hours of February 26 retired yesterday after 39 years of illustrious career. Other than the fact that he was awarded Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal and appointed as the Honorary Air Force ADC to President of India, he also is the one who drew up the comprehensive plan of the air strike, which destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest training camp in Pakistan.
Hari Kumar, who joined the IAF in 1979 retired on 28th February. Kargil hero Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar is now appointed as the WAC Chief. Headquartered in Delhi, the WAC controls the area from north of Bikaner in Rajasthan up to Siachen Glacier and controls almost 40 per cent of the air bases of the IAF. During the Kargil war, he shot down five of the eight Laser Guided Bombs on the Pakistani positions from his plane.
However, no sooner did the news of his retirement came out, Pakistanis were already indulging in psy-ops and claimed that Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar was ‘sacked’ for ‘losing several aircrafts to Pakistan’ in the current situation at the LoC.
#IAF Air Marshal C Harikumar (WAC) removed from the post because of failure in the combat against #PAF? Isn’t it another moral victory for #Pakistan! https://t.co/g7rCz0WcGL
— Shiraz Hassan ਸ਼ੀਰਾਜ਼ ਹਸਨ (@ShirazHassan) March 1, 2019
Shiraz Hassan is a Pakistan-based journalist, who worked for BBC formerly.
Chiming in are Pakistan-based journalists who have been associated with NYTimes, Reuters.
#Indian REPORTEDLY removes senior air force officer after #Pakistan shot down two #Indian jets, and captured pilot. Eastern Air Command chief Air Marshal Nambiar is new chief of Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command in place of Air Marshal Harikumar https://t.co/LSALAKM5Pp
— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) March 1, 2019
Air Marshal Harikumar, Commander Western Command of IAF has been “replaced” after losing two jets and Pilots to Pakistan Air Force.
— Shahid Raza. (@schaheid) March 1, 2019
#IndianAirForce has SACKED AOC-in-C of its Westeran Command, Air Marshal Chandrashekharan Hari Kumar after losing several aircraft to #Pakistan in the recent stand off. Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar replaces the officer. @IAF_MCC #WelcomeBackAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/ymnfZvjmJ1
— Defence Expert (@DefenceExpert) March 1, 2019
Clearly, the psy-ops undertaken by Pakistanis on Twitter is in line with Pakistani government which has been spreading fake news and lies with respect to the current stand-off at the LoC. Earlier this morning we had reported that how after being caught red-handed Pakistanis have resorted to spreading fake news that the missile used to target Indian military assets does not belong to them.
Following the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror attack on CRPF convoy on February 14 which claimed lives of 44 soldiers, Indian Air Force on February 26 carried out airstrikes in Balakot region of Pakistan and destroyed terror camps thriving on Pakistani soil. Pakistan then retaliated by targeting India’s military installations on February 27. Following the aggression by Pakistan, Pakistanis, including the government of Pakistan has proceeded to spread numerous lies about the claims which are being called out by the Indian government and Indian Armed Forces.
