Pakistan Honours Military and Civil Officials Amidst 155 Deaths in Operation Sindoor Conflict with India
Pakistan celebrated its 79th Independence Day by recognizing numerous military and civilian officials for their contributions during the May conflict with India. According to Samaa, Operation Sindoor by India resulted in the deaths of 155 Pakistani soldiers amidst severe strikes. Defence sources note that while this number is based on official Pakistani reports, the actual death toll may be higher.
On Thursday, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conferred the awards, acknowledging the efforts made during the four-day conflict from May 7 to 10. The escalation began when India initiated Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which resulted in 26 civilian casualties.
Key awards were distributed to prominent figures, including Army Chief General Asim Munir, who received the Hilal-e-Jurat, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf were also recipients of the Hilal-e-Jurat and Nishan-e-Imtiaz, respectively. Fighter pilots from the Pakistan Air Force were honored with the Sitara-e-Jurat for their roles in aerial combat.
The head of ISI, Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, and the spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, were awarded the Sitara-i-Basalat. Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed and Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz were commended for their media briefings during the crisis.
Civilian recognition included notable figures such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Members of the Prime Minister's diplomatic mission were also recognized, with many receiving the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for their efforts in promoting Pakistan's narrative internationally.
The scale of the awards was extensive, with the Pakistan Army confirming that 488 personnel from the Army, Air Force, and Navy were honored. The awards included 8 Sitara-i-Jurat, 5 Tamgha-i-Jurat, 24 Sitara-i-Basalat, 45 Tamgha-i-Basalat, 146 Imtiazi Asnad, 259 COAS Commendation Cards, and 1 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military).
This ceremony marked the first Independence Day since the significant conflict in May 2025, which brought India and Pakistan close to a full-scale war.
