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Pakistan’s Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed has, overnight, turned into an internet sensation, not only for his military skills but also for his charming demeanor during a recent press conference. Fans have affectionately referred to him as Pakistan’s “national crush,” and he is being lavished with a deluge of memes, fan edits, and loving posts on the internet.

The wave of admiration started after Pakistan Air Force’s much-publicized and successful reaction during recent India-Pakistan cross-border tensions, where six Indian Rafale aircraft were allegedly shot down. At the official DGISPR press conference with Navy Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, it was Aurangzeb Ahmed’s calm demeanor, sharp eyes, and wedding-ring-clad left hand that really captured the hearts of netizens.

Videos of his cool and confident declaration — “I am Air Vice Marshal, and I will begin where I have begun: Pakistan Air Force 6, Indian Air Force 0” — soon went viral, inspiring both patriotic pride and light-hearted admiration. Social media has since blown up with hashtags such as #AVMAurangzeb, #NationalCrush, #RafaleHunter, and #PAFSwag.

At the same time, Vice Admiral Nawaz’s stern demeanor while being briefed also became meme fodder, inspiring the Navy officer to good-naturedly embrace his sudden fame.

The meme even inspired good-natured casting proposals for a potential war movie, with fans nominating actor Fawad Khan to portray the composed and debonair Air Vice Marshal on the silver screen.

Aside from the memes, there is real national pride in the way the military leadership has behaved. Aurangzeb Ahmed’s service has been rewarded with the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military), and his calm media performances have now made him both a respected officer and an unlikely pop culture icon.

As one tweet aptly quipped: “From briefing room to trending tab — AVM Aurangzeb didn’t just shoot down jets, he shot straight into our hearts.”

Whether this fame sticks or not, for the time being, Pakistan’s internet is saluting with pride a new type of hero — one who soars high in the skies as well as on social media timelines.

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