KARACHI: Pakistan has put on display a statue of an Indian pilot whose plane was shot down over Kashmir earlier this year, invoking the ire of India’s media.
The life-sized statue of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman — complete with his singature moustache — has been installed in an exhibit at a museum in Karachi run by the Pakistan Air Force.
Varthaman’s plane was shot down in a dogfight over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir in February during clashes which brought nuclear-armed India and Pakistan to the brink of a new war.
After his capture, the Pakistani military released video showing him sipping a cup of tea and politely refusing to answer questions.
His stoic and courteous demeanour — and comment that the tea was “fantastic” — catapulted him to hero status in India.
He was released several days later in a peace gesture from Pakistan aimed at defusing tensions.
The statue stands in a gallery named Operation Swift Retort.
The exhibit includes what Pakistan says are parts of the fuselage and tail of Varthaman’s aircraft, a Mig-21, as well as a tea mug — though apparently not the same one the pilot was seen sipping from.
The gallery also contains images re-enacting the moment his plane was shot down, and photographs showing him being handed back to India at the Wagah border crossing.
A mess receipt jokingly charging Varthaman for the tea — at the cost of one Mig-21 — is also framed in the exhibit. Images of the mocking receipt went viral in the days after his capture.
The museum stands inside a recreational park for young people in Karachi, complete with decomissioned aircraft and other military hardware.
“I feel very proud of my country seeing Abhinandan’s statue at the gallery,” said Samiullah Bari, a 10th grade student visiting the museum at a school trip.
Indians were less enthusiastic, however, with the Times of India newspaper calling the exhibit “a new low.”
Pakistan installs statue of Indian pilot shot down over Kashmir
Pakistan installs statue of Indian pilot shot down over Kashmir
- Pakistan downed the Indian plane in a dogfight over the disputed Kashmir region in February
- The captured pilot was released after several days by Pakistan in a peace gesture
Pakistan to begin first phase of Hajj 2026 trainings from today
- Training programs to be held in phases across Pakistan till February, says religion ministry
- Saudi Arabia allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has said that it will begin the first phase of mandatory Hajj 2026 training for pilgrims intending to perform the pilgrimage from today, Thursday.
The one-day Hajj training programs will be held in phases across the country at the tehsil level until February. The ministry directed intending pilgrims to bring their original identity cards and the computerized receipt of their Hajj application to attend the training sessions.
“Pilgrims should attend the one-day training program according to their scheduled date,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
The ministry said training schedules are being shared through the government’s Pak Hajj 2026 mobile application as well as via SMS. It added that details of the schedule are also available on its website.
According to the ministry, training programs will be held in Abbottabad on Jan. 2; Ghotki, Thatta and Kotli on Jan. 3; and Tando Muhammad Khan and Khairpur on Jan. 4.
Hajj training sessions will be held in Rawalakot, Badin and Naushahro Feroze on Jan. 5, while pilgrims in Fateh Jang, Dadu and Tharparkar will receive the training on Jan. 6.
The ministry said training programs will be conducted in Umerkot and Larkana on Jan. 7, followed by sessions in Mirpurkhas, Shahdadkot and Mansehra on Jan. 8.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has previously said these trainings will be conducted by experienced trainers and scholars using multimedia.
It said the training has been made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, of which around 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be allocated to private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s Hajj scheme, the estimated cost of the government package ranges from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
