New Delhi: Top government sources Friday insisted that Pakistan did lose an F-16 in the 27 February air battle in the Nowshera sector, despite a prominent American magazine saying otherwise.
According to Foreign Policy, a US count of Pakistan’s F-16s has reportedly found that none of them are “missing”, and all are “present and accounted for”.
The finding by the US on the ground in Pakistan “directly contradicts” India’s claim that its air force shot down an F-16 during the dogfight over Jammu and Kashmir.
“This was on expected lines. Do you think that the US will ever accept that an F-16 was shot down by a vintage Russian MiG-21 Bison?” a source told ThePrint.
Multiple sources said there is electronic and physical evidence to corroborate the fact that F-16s were indeed used by Pakistan.
“The F-16s are the most sold American fighter aircraft in the world now. They are also in contention for the 114 fighter jets order from the IAF. So, how can they really admit that their aircraft was shot down?” another source said.
Enough evidence
Sources pointed out that Pakistan had, on the first day, claimed that two aircraft were shot down, and also that one pilot was in custody, another in hospital, and it was looking for a third pilot.
“India accepted that one MiG-21 Bison was shot down and its pilot is in Pakistani custody. What about the second aircraft and the two pilots that Pakistan military and the Prime Minister Imran Khan had claimed was in their custody?” asked the second source cited above.
The Indian Air Force on 28 February displayed pieces of the AMRAAM missile fired by a Pakistani F-16 as evidence to “conclusively” prove that Pakistan deployed US-manufactured F-16s in its raid targeting Indian military installations.
Addressing a rare tri-service press conference on 28 February, Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor had told reporters: “There is enough evidence to show that F-16s were used in this mission through their electronic signatures. Parts of the AMRAAM air-to-air missile, which is carried only on the F-16s, was recovered east of Rajouri within Indian territory.”
Also read: India produces proof, rubbishes Pakistan claim that F-16s weren’t used across LoC
Kapoor also said the Pakistan media had shown parts of the engines and drop tanks that didn’t belong to India’s downed MiG-21, which confirmed that the F-16 was shot.
However, according to Foreign Policy, Pakistan invited the United States to physically count its F-16s as part of an end-user agreement signed when the foreign military sale was finalised.
“A US count of Pakistan’s F-16 fleet has found that all the jets are present and accounted for, a direct contradiction to India’s claim that it shot down one of the fighter jets during a February clash,” Lara Seligman reported in the magazine Thursday, quoting an unnamed defence official.
Citizen of India are frankly naive. A recent bbc report said there is worldwide trend of at least 50% news being fake with 35% actually believing in a fake news. In India 64% person believe in fake news. That’s 30% higher than worldwide average. Pakistan has been counted for the F-16’s. Will India allow Russia to count SU-30? If the answer is no than I ask my indian friends to use a little bit of brain and come to the conclusion. Regarding the second pilot, UAE in secret talks to get the Israeli pilot released. Question to be asked why India allowing a far away country to be involved in the conflict?
Balakot madrasa kept under lockdown for a month.
F-16 from not being used to used in defence only.
And most importantly, an injured pilot in CMS hospital whom ghafoor forgot after day.
Puri daal hi kaali hai !!!
Let them parade F16 pilot Usthad and allow him to fly F16 live infront of all journalists.
Their commercial interests are making them to lie. Modi govt should hammer the truth on US by presenting the evidences available with our air force. US is showing its true colour. They have a greater interest in Pak.
Those saying Americans are lying for F 16, the fact is neither F 16s are stealth capable nor the F 16s Pakistan used are very advance F 16s, also, if an F16 is downed it’s not the fault of a plane rather the one who is piloting. If the same would have been said against Pakistan, It would automatically be accepted as a most credible source.
Americans will lose there Business if they Accepted the Fact an F-16 was Shot Down And Who would buy that Shit Anymore even India after it lost to a Vintage Aircraft Like MiG-21. PorkiShitanis would Jump the Gun And Start Quoting this Type Articles as Source But Where is Second And Third Pilot. You can’t just BullShit your Way threw And India has AAMRAM Missile Evidence as well. Which are designed to fire from an US Aircraft not from a Chinkiense Junk like Junk Fighter-17 Blunder.
HaHa. Americans even found WMDs with Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
we all know india will never accept any kind of defeat from Pakistan . Even IAF get fooled by their own politician modi , who used them for their own election purpose and make them a joke around the world lol
We all know IAF will never accept any defeat from Pakistan , never ever . Even IAF get fooled by their own politician modi , who used them for their election purpose and made a joke of them all around the world lol . So sad lol
I mean this from the heart. Hope the “zakhmi pilot jo CMS Hospital mein bharti huwe hain” is fine.
Reminds me of the terrible visuals from Kargil, where Indian soliders had to bury felled Pakistani soliders with full military honours as the Pakistanis wouldn’t take back their dead. Same thing happening yet again. Granted, it will be a long time before Pakistan develops respect for ordinary life. Afterall, the quaid-e-azam has famously called for “direct action”. But soliders? Surely, given their exalted position in Pakistani society, one would have imagined a fallen hero will be treated with more dignity.
Finally truth revealed .
Pakistan Zindabad
Pakistan Air Force Zindabad
Nothing unusual in Pak story in US press. They may have got some fighters F-16 from their friends like Saudi Arabia or North Korea to show. Pak have many a crooked friends including USA. For years its Presidents fooled their own Parliament, people and world around that Pak have no nuclear facilities, which was being developed under its own nose and watch. The pilot who was beaten by Pakis and died in the hospital belongs to which country.
This propaganda is somewhat similar the one by NASA Chief who said 44% enhancement in risk to International Space Station due to Mission Shakti, the 1st ever A-SAT test conducted by Bharat, BUT has failed to give his assessment of enhancement of risk due to numerous A-SAT tests conducted by US itself, besides those conducted by Russia and China!
It is indeed that American Taxpayers’ money is being used to support TERROR and Terrorists because the funds and weapons including F16 supplied to NaPak for fighting against TERROR are being used to support TERROR!
THE TO HUMAN LIFE HAS INCREASED HUNDREDs of times as not just 44%, in fact we in our country have been losing human life due to such American and Chinese support! And that is terrible indeed!
Quite expected due to American EGO getting hurt by an F16 getting shot down by a MiG21 and even more so because of damage to image of F16 and the associated commercial interests!
But citizens of Bharat should decide whom to believe:
Integrity and valor of our own brave soldiers and pilots OR
US face Saving Propaganda?
Our own Armed Forces who are the protector of our citizens and the nation as such or a countrc US that for decades, has been pumping Funds and Arms in our neighborhood knowing fully well that such Arms and Funds are being consistently used to PROMOTE TERROR rather than curb TERROR! And that’s TERRIBLE INDEED !
If US accepts loss of F16, US will have to take strong action against Pakistan in accordance with the end user agreement, which they don’t really want.
The IAF has to provide incontrovertible evidence failing which it would appear that the were “persuaded” to make the claim after the MiG bison was shot down.
Very true. Americans even found WMDs with Saddam Hussein. Looks like Americans needed no persuasion then.
Drop tank as mentioned in the article ? this point was even made by youtuber cyversurg