Pakistan & India Airforce POWs Exchange.
On 22 January 1966 in Delhi, Pakistan and India exchanged Air Force POWs from the September 1965 conflict as a goodwill measure tied to General Musa’s visit and the Tashkent Declaration.
Pakistan released seven Indian Air Force pilots; India released three Pakistan Air Force personnel. The ceremony included the arrival of a PAF aircraft, relatives waving, garlanding of the Pakistani returnees, a formal handover lineup, and a handshake between officials.
PAF POWs: Flying Officer Shaukat-ul-Islam (F-86), Flight Lieutenant Sheikh (pilot), Flight Lieutenant B.A. Choudhary (B-57).
IAF pilots: Squadron Leader O.N. Kakar (Hunter), Flight Lieutenant V.M. Mayadev (Gnat), Flying Officer M.M. Lowe (Canberra), Flying Officer M.V. Singh (Hunter), Flight Lieutenant Sadarangani Lal (Mystère IV), Flight Lieutenant K.C. Carriapa (Hunter), Squadron Leader B.P.S. Sikand (Gnat).
Special thanks to Mr.
Usman Shabbir for providing the pilots’ information.