Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed becomes top Google search in Pakistan

Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has become one of the most searched individuals in Pakistan, following heightened military tensions with India earlier.

Search interest in “Aurangzeb” surged sharply in Pakistan on May 12, 2025, with Google Trends data showing a peak value of 100 at 2:00 AM—the highest point recorded during the past week.

The trend has maintained elevated levels since the peak, indicating sustained public engagement and interest in the PAF spokesperson.

Aurangzeb Ahmed, who serves as the official spokesperson for the PAF, has gained popularity among the Pakistani public, particularly the youth, for his composed demeanour and subtle humour during press briefings.

In a widely circulated clip, the Air Vice Marshal said, “I will pick up from where I left, day before yesterday, PAF vs IAF, 6-nil,” referring to Pakistan's reported downing of five Indian aircraft during the escalation. The tally reportedly included three Rafale jets, a Su-30, a MiG-29, and a combat drone.

The Pakistan Armed Forces launched Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos in response to Indian military strikes that began overnight on May 6–7. The Indian attacks resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.

On the Indian side, “Ceasefire meaning” was the most searched term, registering over 10 million queries. “Operation Sindoor” and “Mock Drill” followed with five million and one million searches, respectively.

In Pakistan, the term “Islamabad Airport” ranked third, with 100,000 searches. Other popular queries included “JF-17 Thunder,” “DG ISPR,” “Dassault Aviation share price,” and Indian fighter pilot “Shivangi Singh.”

'PAF conducted largest airstrike on Indian airfields since 1971'

The PAF targeted the highest number of Indian Air Force (IAF) airfields in a single mission since the 1971 war, Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed said on Sunday.

In a media briefing, the Air Vice Marshal said that the PAF strikes were conducted with precision and deliberately avoided civilian infrastructure. He further said that the operation was a swift and calculated response to recent escalations, aimed at deterring further hostilities.

“The mission was executed on our terms, under clear instructions from the leadership,” Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb.

“India attempted to establish a ‘new normal’ through aggressive escalation. Pakistan’s swift and coordinated reply denied them that opportunity,” Aurangzeb Ahmed said, adding that Pakistan’s military radar and jamming systems also intercepted multiple Indian drones aimed at civilian areas.