The Pakistani military action came a day after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes in Pakistan’s Balakot at a terror camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed
Upping the ante along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Wednesday attempted to target vital military installations in frontier Poonch and Rajouri districts but their ‘desperate’ bid was thwarted by the Indian Air Force successfully.
Acknowledging that an IAF wing commander is in Pakistan custody, the government has in a strongly worded statement objected to Pakistan military’s “vulgar display” of the injured pilot.
According to ground reports, “two fighter jets each violated the Indian air space in Rajouri and Poonch districts around 10.20 a.m on Wednesday and attempted to target army brigade headquarters in Bhimber Gali and Krishna Ghati sectors”.
In late-night retaliatory action, the Indian army had also killed several Pakistan army personnel and demolished five posts of Pakistan army in Sunderbani-Pallanwalla sector.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told a press briefing that in the Indian retaliation, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG-21 Bison aircraft of the IAF.
“Against this Counter Terrorism Action, Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled successfully,” the MEA spokesperson said.
“In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG-21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side.”In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG-21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts,” Kumar said, accompanied by Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor.
Government issues demarche to Pakistan
Acknowledging that an IAF wing commander is in Pakistan custody, the government has in a strongly worded statement objected to Pakistan military’s “vulgar display” of the injured pilot.
Several border residents in Poonch and Rajouri migrated to safer places to escape getting caught in the crossfire.
The statement came moments after Pakistan military said it has one Indian pilot in custody. Hours earlier, he had claimed Pakistan had arrested two IAF personnel. Major General Asif Ghafoor, the chief of Pakistan military’s media wing, had earlier in the day released the service number of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and said another Indian pilot was hospitalised because of injuries. In a press briefing, the External Affairs Ministry had said the Wing Commander was missing in action after his MiG-21 Bison fighter jet crashed while engaging with Pakistani aircraft.
The government also handed the Pakistani envoy a dossier containing “specific details of Jaish-e-Mohammed complicity in the Pulwama terror attack of February 14, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The dossier also had proof of the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan. “It was conveyed that India expects Pakistan to take immediate and verifiable action against terrorism emanating from territories under its control,” the MEA statement said.
The Pakistani military action came a day after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes in Pakistan’s Balakot at a terror camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, which had recently carried out the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14.
Major General Asif Ghafoor, the spokesman of the Pakistan military, had earlier claimed that IAF planes “strayed into Pakistani airspace” after its airstrikes.
Meanwhile, two pilots were killed on Wednesday after an Indian Air Force M-17 chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district. The chopper crashed due to technical reasons, officials said.
The chopper crashed close to the Srinagar airport in an open field near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam around 10 am. The site of the crash is 7 km from the Srinagar International Airport, police said. The chopper broke into two and caught fire immediately. Both pilots died in the incident.
The situation remained tense along the International border across Jammu frontier and several forward villagers were directed to remain in a state of high alert and ready to evacuate if the need arises in the wake of fresh escalation of hostilities.
Several border residents in Poonch and Rajouri migrated to safer places to escape getting caught in the crossfire.
Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
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We are speaking very high of our satellite technology. Is it not very simple to release the photographs taken by our satellites in the present case of destroying terrorists and F16 shoot out and establish our claim instead of simple talking in the media with doubts.
It is really sad to see our defense personnel still using Nehru-Gandhi regimes old MIGs, Sukhois and Mirage 2000 though few were upgraded to “I” version. Nehru-Gandhi lead Dynasty must be sent to jail for having continued with old fighter jets and in 2013-14 AK Antony declared that PM MMS/FM PC do not have money/did not provide any budgetary allocations to buy 4th or 5th generation fighter jets.Why should we the taxpayers give security protection to Nehru-Gandhi members and to their extended families? Why are they not living in one building instead of staying in three?
from 2014 May NDA govt started to dedust files, shuffling DMs and messed the portfolios changing ministers and came up with Rafael with a clean Govt to Govt deal, while much touted HAL do not deliver the required fighter jets.
After seeing last week’s Bangalore Air show crashes, Pulwama MIG crash and ageing fighter jets let us hope our defense forces do not depend on flying coffins for the next six months and wait for Rafale deliveries starting from September 2019.
We must salute our defense personnel protecting us from the available weaponry 24/7/365.
Fully in agreement with you. Sigh…..
Wonder why the IAF lost a pilot and a fighter even at a stage when it required the highest state of alert and preparedness. Is depending on the MIG 21 flying coffins the need of the hour or to be war ready for such skirmishes with the Sukhois and Mirages? Surely the elation and celebration on the air attack in Balakot has been muffled by the loss of our pilot that has now made the nation begging for return from Pakistan. The IAF leadership must respond on why the MIG21’s were ever used rather then being kept as a last resort only in the eventuallity of a full fledged war. The Armed forces must not allow such roller coaster ride on the Indian emotions and act professionally especially when the situation needs them to do so in carrying the nation through this pain that 1.25 billion people are suffering from.