Did Pakistan shoot down Indian MiG-21 with F-16 ? US investigates
Under a deal with the United States, Pakistan is only entitled to use the US-built fighter jets for counter-terrorism operations, but India has accused Islamabad of violating the agreement and downing an Indian MiG-21 during a dogfight over the Line of Control in Kashmir in late February. Pakistan, in turn, denies having deployed any F-16s.
The United States wants to know if Pakistan used US-made F-16 fighter jets to shoot down an Indian MiG-21, which may be a violation of the sale agreement between Washington and Islamabad, Reuters reported citing a spokesperson for the US Embassy in Pakistan.
The United States wants to know if Pakistan used US-made F-16 fighter jets to shoot down an Indian MiG-21, which may be a violation of the sale agreement between Washington and Islamabad, Reuters reported citing a spokesperson for the US Embassy in Pakistan.
“We are aware of these reports and are seeking more information. We take all allegations of misuse of defense articles very seriously”, the spokesperson said.
While the Indian military has stepped up accusations against Pakistan, Islamabad has consistently denied having scrambled US-built F-16s, acquired under a “fight against terrorism” program, in the recent Kashmir incident.
In addition, the Indian side claims that a Pakistan Air Force F-16 had been downed and displayed parts of AMRAAM medium-range missile that was recovered in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir, alleging that they had been launched by a US-made jet. Pakistan has strongly denied the allegations, insisting that it has not lost any aircraft.
In a parallel development, CNN has suggested that it may have been a Chinese-designed JF-17 fighter jet produced jointly by Islamabad and Beijing that brought down the Indian plane last week and resulted in the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Historically tense relations between India and Pakistan have hit another low since Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e Mohammad claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a convoy with Indian security forces on 14 February that killed over 40 soldiers. In the wake of the attack, New Delhi accused Islamabad of harbouring terrorists — a claim vehemently rejected by Pakistan as “unsubstantiated”.
The Indian Air Force, in turn, stated that one of its MiG-21 Bison jets had shot down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight, while Islamabad maintained it never dispatched US-made fighter jets or sustained any losses.