According to a report in the Hindustan Times, India has shared vital evidence of Pakistan’s use of F-16s in the attempted strike against India after the Balakot airstrikes. As per the signed MoU between Pakistan and the US, Pakistan can use the fighter jets only for action against terror and not for aggression against other countries.
In the aftermath of the Pulwama attack by Pakistan based Jaish-e-Muhammad terror group, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives, India had conducted airstrikes deep inside Pakistan, in Balakot, and killed many terrorists belonging to JeM terror outfit. In response to this, Pakistan had attempted to carry out air strikes against India’s military assets in Jammu & Kashmir.
Pakistan had reportedly used F-16s in this operation which were promptly chased down by India’s patrol fleet and in the ensuing dogfight, India’s Mig-21 bison flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman managed to down one of the F-16s before his fighter jet crashed in the PoK region.
The South Block officials have stated that they will be sharing the details of the residual Advanced Medium Range Air to Air missile (AMRAAM) shot by one of the intruding Falcons with the US authorities through the established intelligence-sharing mechanism. The details of the recovered missile hints to the consignment lot the US had sold to Pakistan. India also has radar signatures of F-16s but it will not share it with the US as it will compromise the security of the Indian Air Force.
As per the report, India also has details of the Pakistani pilot who was flying the falcon that got crashed. Pakistan, on the other hand, had vehemently denied the involvement of falcons in their operation, claiming that they had used Chinese made JF-17s in their operation.