Addressing his first press briefing after the Balakot air strikes, the Air Chief said that the Indian Air Force does count human casualties when they execute an operation. Instead they count what targets have been hit or not.
Replying to a question on what fighter jets were used to repulse the Pakistani fighter jets that violated the Indian Air Space along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the IAF Chief said that it depends on the situation and nature of operation. He said that if it is a planned operation, you can pick the best aircrafts you have in your arsenal. However if an adversary does a strike on you, every available aircraft goes in, irrespective of which aircraft it is. All aircraft are capable of fighting the enemy.
Responding to a question on when could Wing Commander Abhinandan resume duties as a fighter pilot, the Air Chief said that it clearly depends on his medical fitness. He said that the pilot underwent medical treatment to get back to full fitness post the mental and physical trauma caused post ejection. Whatever treatment is required, it will be given to him. Once we get his medical fitness, he will get into fighter cockpit.He said that the Indian Air Force does not make any compromises with the fitness standards of pilots.
The Indian Air Force on February 26 had conducted pre-emptive air strike on three JeM terrorist camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the Pulwama attack in which over 40 CRPF personnel were killed. It was the first time after the 1971 Ind-Pak war that that Indian jets had flown deep into Pakistan territory to carry out strikes.
Following India’s air strike, the Pakistani Air Force had also violated Indian air space and attempted to bomb military installations along the Line of Control in India, but its fighter jets were scrambled back by IAF. The Indian Air Force MiG even shot down a US built F-16 fighter jet used by the Pakistani Air Force to strike India.