Islamabad: Pakistan Army on Monday once again rejected India’s claim of shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet, saying one cannot hide if a plane is downed in today’s age when even if a motorcycle crashes the world finds out.
India has asserted that an Indian Air Force MIG-21 shot down an American-made F-16 on February 27 during the aerial confrontation, a day after Indian fighter jets bombed a JeM terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan.
Pakistan, however, has consistently denied the Indian Air Force’s claim, saying none of its aircraft was shot down during the weeks of tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries.
Pakistan also claims to have shot a second Indian Air Force jet during the engagement, a claim India has dismissed.
“We downed two Indian planes in the process, the whole world saw their debris and you [India] still claimed that one of the two planes was ours and one of our own pilots died, as we had initially said that two Indian pilots had been captured, and then said that there was only one. You [India] said that we have changed our statement because one pilot was our own,” Pakistan military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters in Rawalpindi.
“We got initial information through the proper channel, then on the ground, I personally found out that only one person had been captured and I sent out the correction myself. How is it that you are ready to accept one of our statement, not the other?” he was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper.
“We have not retaliated because we want peace […] we asked you [India] to ask America about our F-16s’ strength. In this day and age, hiding the downing of a plane is impossible. In this time, even if a motorcycle crashes the world finds out,” he added.
Also read: Was it US’ F-16 or China’s JF-17 that ‘downed’ MiG 21 Bison piloted by Abhinandan?
Man what a time we live in. People are comparing a hiding a human with hiding a aircraft? Do you people really think that this is a fair comparison? An aircraft crash can easily be picked through satellite image or through smoke clouds rising from the burning jet. People near the border have access to phone and Internet on both sides. Don’t you watch people making videos of soldiers being moved near to the border on social media forums made by local peoples? Movement of soldiers being moved to the border is actually harmful and yet there is no control on such thing. What stops from locals to make such video of a burning jet?
It is indeed impossible to hide downing of aircraft. Just take a look at what happened to IAF chopper in Budgam? Despite 6 months delay, people already knew that the chopper was shot down as result of friendly fire. Even the anti-Pakistani folks like Christinie fair had said that India made a fool of itself and a laughing stock. None of the neutral obeservers seems to support India on its F16 claim.
Heard this guy announcing on TV that 2 Indian pilots had been captured, one of whom was taken to hospital and didn’t survive. Later it was clarified that they had only Abhinandan. No explanation was offered for the man who died after descending from the skies (Evidently their own man)!
When Pakistan can hide Osama Bin Laden for year, hiding a jet is not at all difficult.
This guy is talking of a jet , unable to be kept in hiding. Does he forget that Pakistan is an expert in keeping most vicious of terrorists, hidden from public gaze and still be able to control all operations ?? Osama Bin Laden is a famous example, where Pak Army sheltered a known terrorist just 3 km from its GHQ.And Dawood ? We all know what Pak Army can do !!
Yet Pakistani army was able to hide the fact of surgical strike by detaining one of the editor of “Dawn” news paper who printed the truth….we all know world’s civilized rules don’t work in militarized Pakistan
Beware!!! Your website might get a notice from the I&B ministry because of this “anti-India” news.
Gentleman must be feeling flattered to be referred to as the second most powerful man in Pakistan.