Initial reports indicate that Pakistan Airforce attempted to infiltrate Indian airspace on Wednesday. The PAF jets were confronted by the Indian Airforce and the bid to infiltrate was thwarted. Reportedly, Pakistan F-16s attempted to infiltrate but were pushed back by Indian SU-30s.
Pak F 16s apparently tried to intrude into Indian airspace in Rajouri but Su 30s pushed them back.
— Raj Shekhar Jha (@rajshekharTOI) February 27, 2019
This comes a day after the Indian Airforce conducted airstrikes deep inside Pakistan territory, with India’s nuclear-capable Mirage 2000 going right up to Balakot, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In the raid, it is reported that Pakistan suffered over 200-300 casualties of their Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists. India had struck the terror camps in three areas, one of which was Balakot.
According to ANI, the PAF jet that violated Indian airspace has been shot down by Indian Air Force.
Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 that violated Indian air space shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3KM within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector. pic.twitter.com/8emKMVpWKi
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
Perhaps to obfuscate the fact their PAF jet has been shot down, now Pakistan is claiming that they did not violate Indian airspace and that this was a display of their “intent”.
Formal statement from Pak foreign office appears to make virtue of not violating Indian airspace (unsurprising — why would they want to run into a Su-30 patrol?) and not hitting targets (India doesn’t have terror facilities). My assessment: show of strength for domestic audience. pic.twitter.com/q4ELBIBVYJ
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 27, 2019
Pakistan had first denied the attack and then, cried foul. In response to our airstrikes, Pakistan had resorted to heavy shelling along the Line of Control last night. In response, India had destroyed 5 Pakistani Army posts and had airlifted 2 jawans to the hospital, who had been injured.
UPDATE: An official statement was released by the MEA officials confirming that Pakistan tried to target Indian military assets. IAF thwarted those attempts and shot down Pakistan’s f-16. In the process, we lost one MiG 21 too. One pilot’s whereabouts are unknown and the government is trying to ascertain the veracity of claims that he is in Pakistan’s custody. Read the statement here.
