India and Pakistan celebrate their Independence Day one day apart and both countries decided to recognise those who fought for their respective countries during Operation Sindoor. However, there was one difference. India honoured armed forces personnel and senior military brass involved in the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor while Pakistan's awards largely focused on its army chief General Asim Munir and top ministers and bureaucrats.
Pakistan leaders pat themselves on the back
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif awarded Nishan-e-Imtiaz to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah. General Asim Munir received Hilal-e-Jurat, while Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf was awarded Nishan-e-Imtiaz.
Sitara-i-Basalat was awarded to ISI chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, who is also the National Security Advisor, and Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. Pakistan also conferred awards to 488 personnel from the Army, Air Force and Navy.
India honours Operation Sindoor heroes
However, unlike Pakistan, India did not dole out awards to its Union ministers or political leaders who went abroad on diplomatic mission post Operation Sindoor. Instead, the awards approved by President Droupadi Murmu were restricted solely to the defence personnel who fought for the country during Operation Sindoor. These included IAF pilots involved in carrying out strikes on terror infrastructure and military installations in Pakistan as well as those who operated the S-400 air defence systems during Operation Sindoor.
Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal was conferred to top military officers Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, Indian Army's DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai and Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma.
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor and Air Marshal Jeetendra Misra, heading the South Western Air Command and the Western Air Command respectively were honoured with Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal. Another recipient of Sarvottam Yudh Seva medal was Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, who as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of Western Naval Command, helped deploy naval assets.
Uttam Yudh Seva medal were conferred to Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, who was critical in finalising the Navy's deployment strategy while Vayu Chakra was given to nine fighter pilots of the Indian Air Force.
Here is the list of Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra awardees:
Kirti Chakra
Army
- CAPTAIN LALRINAWMA SAILO, 4 PARA (SPECIAL FORCES)
- LIEUTENANT SHASHANK TIWARI, THE ARMY SERVICE CORPS, 1 SIKKIM SCOUTS
- LANCE NAIK MEENATCHI SUNDARAM A, THE REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY, 34 RASHTRIYA RIFLES
- SEPOY JANJAL PRAVIN PRABHAKAR, THE MAHAR REGIMENT, 1 RASHTRIYA RIFLES
Vir Chakra
Army
- COLONEL KOSHANK LAMBA, 302 MEDIUM REGIMENT
- LIEUTENANT COLONEL SUSHIL BISHT, 1988 (INDEPENDENT) MEDIUM BATTERY
- NAIB SUBEDAR SATISH KUMAR, 4 DOGRA
- RIFLEMAN SUNIL KUMAR, 4 JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY
Air Force
- GROUP CAPTAIN RANJEET SINGH SIDHU, FLYING (PILOT)
- GROUP CAPTAIN MANISH ARORA, FLYING (PILOT)
- GROUP CAPTAIN ANIMESH PATNI, FLYING (PILOT)
- GROUP CAPTAIN KUNAL KALRA, FLYING (PILOT)
- WING COMMANDER JOY CHANDRA, FLYING (PILOT)
- SQUADRON LEADER SARTHAK KUMAR, FLYING (PILOT)
- SQUADRON LEADER SIDDHANT SINGH, FLYING (PILOT)
- SQUADRON LEADER RIZWAN MALIK, FLYING (PILOT)
- FLIGHT LIEUTENANT AARSHVEER SINGH THAKUR, FLYING (PILOT)
MHA
- SUB INSPECTOR (GD), MOHD IMTEYAJ
- CT/GD DEEPAK CHINGAKHAM
Shaurya Chakra
Army
- LIEUTENANT COLONEL NEETESH BHARTI SHUKLA, 19 SIKH
- MAJOR BHARGAV KALITA, THE KUMAON REGIMENT, 50 RASHTRIYA RIFLES
- MAJOR ASHISH KUMAR, 7 PARA (SPECIAL FORCES)
- MAJOR ADITYA PRATAP SINGH, SM, THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES, 44 ASSAM RIFLES
- ASSISTANT COMMANDANT MOHD SHAFIQ, 26 ASSAM RIFLES
- SUBEDAR SHAMSHER SINGH, 4 PARA (SPECIAL FORCES)
- LANCE NAIK RAHUL SINGH, 4 PARA (SPECIAL FORCES)
- RIFLEMAN BHOJ RAM SAHU, 3 ASSAM RIFLES
Navy
- LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SURAJ PRASHAR
- RAM GOYAL, SEA II
Air Force
- WING COMMANDER ABHIMANYU SINGH (30725) FLYING (PILOT)
MHA
- INSPECTOR, SHRI LAXMAN KEWAT
- INSPECTOR, SHRI RAMESHWAR PRASAD DESHMUKH
- CONSTABLE/GD SADDAM HUSSAIN
- CONSTABLE/GD FEDA HUSSAIN DAR
- CONSTABLE/GD SANJAY TIWARI