Srinagar, Feb 27, : An Indian pilot was captured by after an Air Force fighter jet shot down a Pakistani aircraft targeting military installations in India, the government of India said on Wednesday.
The government said that Pakistan had responded to its “counter-terrorism action” by using its Air Force to target military installations in India. “Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled successfully,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, addressing the media alongside Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapur.
“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,” said the spokesperson.
India also summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over Pakistan Air Force’s attack on Indian military installations, the foreign ministry said.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said during a trilateral meeting in China that India wants to avoid any “further escalation of the situation” while justifying the air strike.
“The limited objective of that pre-emptive strike was to act decisively against the terrorist infrastructure of Jaish-e-Mohammed in order to pre-empt another terror attack in India,” Sushma Swaraj said in Wuzhen. “India does not wish to see further escalation of this situation. India will continue to act with responsibility and restraint,” she stated.
