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New Delhi : Air Vice Marshal Ravi Kapoor of the Indian Air Force on February 28, 2019, said the PAF aircraft targeted military installations on February 27, 2019. However they were intercepted by IAF fighter aircraft that thwarted their plans. Although PAF bombs fell in Indian Army Formation compounds, they were unable to cause any significant damage to our Military Installations due to swift IAF response, he asserted.
On 27 February 27, 2019, Air Vice Marshal Ravi Kapoor said, at around 10 am IAF radars detected a large package of PAF aircraft heading towards the Indian territory towards general area Jhangar. They breached the Indian airspace west of Rajauri in Sunderbani Area. The ingressing aircraft were observed to be at various levels.
IAF fighters including MiG-21 Bison, Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000 were tasked to intercept the PAF aircraft. The PAF aircraft attempting to target military installations were intercepted by IAF fighter aircraft which thwarted their plans. In the aerial combat that ensued, one F-16 of PAF was shot down by an IAF MiG-21 Bison. The F-16 crashed and fell across the LOC in POJ&K, Air Vice Marshal Ravi Kapoor added. The IAF lost one MiG-21 in the aerial engagement and though the Pilot ejected safely his parachute drifted into POJ&K where he was taken into custody by Pakistan Army, he said.
Air Vice Marshal Ravi Kapoor said there have been many factually incorrect statements that have been made by Pakistan. The First blatant disinformation was that two IAF aircraft were shot down by Pakistan and three pilots were downed. This figure was later revised downwards to two IAF aircraft and two Pilots. The fact, however, is that Indian Army units had reported sighting two parachutes falling in the POJ&K which were of two F-16 pilots shot down by the IAF MiG-21 Bison. Pakistan later in the evening changed its statement to say that one Indian pilot was in their custody. Therefore, it was only by late evening that Pakistan accepted the fact, he said.
Secondly, Pakistan claimed that they intentionally dropped weapons in open space where there was no human presence or military posts. The fact is that the PAF aircraft targeted military installations. However, they were intercepted by IAF fighter aircraft that thwarted their plans. Although PAF bombs have fallen in Indian Army Formation compounds, they were unable to cause any significant damage to our Military Installations due to swift IAF response, he said.
Pakistan also stated that no F-16s were used in the operation and no Pakistani Plane was downed by Indian Air Force. There is enough evidence to show that F-16s were used in this mission and Pakistan is trying to hide this fact, he said. Also, parts of AMRAAM Air to Air Missile, which is carried only on the F-16s in PAF, were recovered East of Rajauri within the Indian territory. Therefore, the fact remains that one F-16 of PAF was shot down by an IAF MiG-21 Bison aircraft, Air Vice Marshal Ravi Kapoor said. IAF has learnt that Pakistan has announced that Wg Cdr Abhinandan will be returned to India tomorrow. IAF looks forward to the return of Wg Cdr Abhinandan, he said.
Major General Surinder Mahal of the Indian Army said that in response to the counter terrorist strike by the Indian Air Force, Pakistan Army first resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in Sundarbani, Bhimbar Gali, Naushera and Krishna Ghati Sectors on February 26, 2019, from 5 pm and again during the night. This was responded to by the Indian Army in a befitting and appropriate manner.
“As my Air Force counterpart has elaborated, on February 27, 2019, Pakistan Air Force attempted to target military establishments in J&K. Specifically, they targeted a Bde [Brigade] HQ, a Bn [Battalion] HQ, forward defences and a Lgs [Logistics] Installation. However, given the high level of preparedness along the Line of Control and the immediate and punitive response by our own forces, the Pakistan Air Force’s designs were foiled,” Major General Surinder Mahal said.
Rear Admiral D S Gujral of the Indian Navy said the Indian Navy is deployed in high state of readiness and remains poised in all the three dimensions – on surface, under-sea and in air to deter, prevent and defeat any misadventure by Pakistan in the maritime domain.” I can assure of a resolute, swift and strong response when needed. We stand as one with the Army and Air Force to ensure the safety and security of the nation and our citizens,” he said, according to a PIB release.