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One Pakistani F-16 was shot down by MiG-21 Bison, says Air Vice Marshal Kapoor during armed forces joint press conference

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Feb 28, 2019, 08:48 PM IST
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Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor during a Joint press briefing by the Army, Navy and the Air Force in New Delhi. Photograph:(ANI)

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Army's Major general Surindar Singh Mehal, Navy's rear admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral and Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapur from the Indian Air Force held the press conference.

Indian Armed forces held a joint press conference in New Delhi today even as Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) meeting was underway in the capital.

The press conference was held just hours after Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan announced in the National Assembly that his government would be releasing the Indian pilot tomorrow who was being held in captivity since Wednesday.

Army's Major general S S Mehal, Navy's Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral and Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor from the Indian Air Force held the press conference.

During the press conference Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said: "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."

"One Pakistani F-16 was shot down by an IAF MiG-21 Bison aircraft, he said, adding,"in east Rajouri, parts of F-16 have been recovered, inside the Indian territory."

"Pakistan Air Force had targeted our military installations but Pakistan Air Force bombs were unable to damage any of our defence installations," he added.

"There is enough evidence to show that F-16s were used in this mission through their electronic signatures. Parts of AMRAAM, air-to-air missile which was carried only on the Pakistani F-16s was recovered east of Rajouri within the Indian territory," he added.

Pakistan lied that no F-16 was used but there was enough evidence, Kapoor added.

Addressing the gathering, Indian Army's Major General S S Mahal said escalation of tensions had been done by Pakistan but India was prepared for any contingency if the enemy provoked it. 

Mechanised forces were put on standby and troops were ready to deal with any security challenge, he said. 

Rear Admiral of the Indian Navy Dalbir Singh Gujral said the force was in a high state of readiness to deal with any Pakistan maritime misadventure.