In a joint presser of the Army, Navy and Air Force, India presented the wreckage of an AMRAAM missile. Pakistan has only one aircraft which can carry the AMRAAM, which is the F 16 jets, Air Vice Marshall Kapoor explained.
Indian defence chiefs displayed the part of Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile which was fired from Pakistani F-16 aircraft that fell in Rajouri region of Jammu and Kashmir. The missile was used by Pakistani Air Force to target India’s military post on February 27.
Brazenly refuting India’s claims, Pakistan had claimed that PAF did not use F-16 during the operation and maintained that no aircraft of Pakistan was struck down by Indian forces.
By the use of F-16s for intruding in Indian boundaries, Pakistan may have violated a US rule that prevents it from using the US weapon (F 16 jets) without prior permission for carrying out any kind of cross-border incursions. The US weapon was provided to Pakistan for use in Afghan region.
“IAF fighters were tasked to intercept the intruding Pakistani aircraft and managed to thwart them. Although PAF jets dropped bombs, they were not able to cause any damage” Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said about Thursday’s violations.
He said IAF was happy that Wing Commander Abhinandan will be freed and looks forward to his return tomorrow.
“Pakistan’s gesture to release Wing Commander Abhinandan in consonance with Geneva Convention”, he said.
He also maintained that PAF bombs were unable to damage any of India’s defence installation, though they targeted them.
He also said that India has credible evidence that IAF destroyed target in strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot.
IAF said it is up to political leadership to decide on releasing evidence of Balakot strike success.