New Delhi, February 27 (The Quint): At a joint press briefing on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Air Force said that India lost one MiG-21 and shot down a Pakistan fighter aircraft.
The ministry confirmed that one IAF pilot was missing in action and that they were ascertaining Pakistan’s claims that he is in their custody.
Read the MEA-IAF Full Statement:
India had informed about a Counter-Terrorism (CT) action it took yesterday against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan based on credible evidence that the JeM intended to launch more attacks. 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 Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. 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.
Earlier in the day, Pakistani fighter jets violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Nowshera sectors, but were pushed back by Indian aircraft, dropping bombs while returning, officials cited by PTI said.
Meanwhile, media reports have said that a Pakistan Air Force F-16 aircraft that violated Indian airspace was shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3 km within the Pakistan territory in Lam Valley, Nowshera sector.
- Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed strikes across LoC, but within Pakistani airspace
- At least two people died after an IAF helicopter crashed in J&K’s Budgam on Wednesday, 27 February
- Wednesday’s developments come a day after the IAF carried out air strikes on a JeM terror camp across the LoC
- The entire airspace north of Delhi has been vacated
