April 02
Pakistan’s military on Monday said Delhi cannot deny that the PAF warplanes shot down two IAF aircraft in the February 27 air battle over Kashmir. It also denounced India’s claims of shooting down a Pakistani F-16.
“The event of February 27 is part of history now. No Pakistani F-16 was hit by the Indian Air Force (IAF),” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement referencing the Indian claims, Dawn reported.
“As regard PAF action for strikes across the LoC [Line of Control], it was done by JF-17 from within Pakistan airspace. Later when two Indian jets crossed the LoC, they were shot down by PAF.”
The military’s media wing added that whether F-16 or JF-17, the kind of aircraft the PAF used to shoot down two Indian jets is ‘immaterial’.
“Even if F-16 have been used, as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F-16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian jets in self defence,” the ISPR statement read, reported Dawn.
“India can assume any type of their choice, even F-16. Pakistan retains the right to use anything and everything in its legitimate self-defence,” it concluded.
Meanwhile, talking to another Pakistan daily, The Express Tribune, Wing Commander (retd) Naseem Ahmed stressed that the ISPR statement should not be read as an admission that F-16s shot down the two warplanes India had lost on February 27.
“I think it is important to see this statement in context… all ISPR is saying that it does not matter which type of fighter jet PAF used that day, India still lost two aircraft and Pakistan lost none,” he said. “India has not been able to provide any proof this is not the case.”
Air Commodore (retd) Jamal Hussein agreed. “Apart from Indians, everyone believes the PAF shot down two IAF jets,” he said. (DAWN)