Bahawalpur naan, Balakot tiramisu: IAF's culinary precision strike on Pak

A frontline fighter base in Punjab sucker-punched Pakistan on the Indian Air Force's 93rd anniversary on Wednesday with a witty menu that served as a stinging reminder of the losses suffered by the neighbouring country during the four-day military confrontation with India in May, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday.

- Rahul Singh

From Rawalpindi Chicken Tikka Masala to Rafiqui Rhara Mutton and Bholari Paneer Methi Malai to Jacobabad Mewa Pulao, the ingenious nomenclature of the dishes on the menu prepared by the Adampur airbase ruthlessly mocked Pakistan’s failures during the May 7-10 clash. Adampur was the first airbase to be visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 13 after the clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

The bill of fare, which went viral on social media, also featured Sukkur Sham Savera Kofta, Sargodha Dal Makhani and Bahawalpur Naan.

Even the sweet course was a bitter pill to swallow for those across the border — Balakot Tiramisu, Muzaffarabad Kulfi Faluda and Muridke Meetha Pan.

All the prefixes denoted the places hit by the IAF with long-range precision weapons during Operation Sindoor in May, except Balakot that was bombed in 2019. The menu displayed the IAF's tagline on top: Infallible, Impervious and Precise.

The dinner menu was a local initiative, the officials said, asking not to be named. An IAF spokesperson refused to comment on the development. HT has seen a copy of the menu.