why so much bitterness and cribbing over someone getting a Vir Chakra, after all it's not Param Vir Charka or Mahavir Chakra which Col. Santosh Babu got over the Galwan episode?
The award citation makes amply clear, shooting down a f16 isn't the only reason for him getting the gallant award, his action put a spanner in the Pakistani plan.
And btw if Abhinandan can't claim of shooting down a f16, what is the evidence of shooting down of India Su30, for which PAF pilot got an gallant award and you all cheered it?
Also don't talk about those four missiles, nobody in India believes it, at least I don't as crash videos show zero presence of right side R73 missile though Pakistan later displayed three big broken pieces of it.
Getting awarded almost three years later because there was no gallantry award giving ceremonies could be held for last two years due to Covid. His recommendation for the award was given way back in 2020 and one can easily get media reports on it.
Actually, Pak can get their F-16s counted by an independent agency or entite world media to debunk the claims of IAF + medal to Abhinandan. This will cause huge embarrassment to Modi govt, and it can fall.
Please do that and help Akhilesh, Mumtaz begum + Kejriwal etc. They really need all the help they can get from across the border.
I am sure this thought might not have missed the Pak establishment.