A video of burning aircraft wreckage is being shared as proof of a Pakistani jet downed by Afghanistan. Verification checks point to much older footage from the United States.
The Trump administration has notified Congress of a proposed USD 686 million F-16 upgrade package for Pakistan, triggering a 30-day review and drawing attention in India.
Recent weeklong visits by Pakistan’s foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto and army chief, General Bajwa, to Washington, signal a resetting of Pakistan ties, believed by some to be a message to India.
Once the SpiceJet pilots identified themselves as a commercial airliner, the PAF fighters allowed it to continue its flight and escorted it till the flight entered Afghan airspace.
The Indian Air Force Chief is also a MiG-21 pilot and had flown the planes during the 1999 Kargil war while commanding the 17 Squadron, during the war.
Abdullah said the BJP govt carried out the aerial strike as PM Modi had 'failed' in delivering on his promises made during the last general elections in the country.
Intercepted radio communication and electronic signatures gathered by IAF indicate downed PAF aircraft was an F-16.
According to the Foreign Policy magazine, Pakistan invited the US to count its F-16 planes after the incident as part of an end-user agreement signed when the sale was finalised.
Pakistan had so far maintained that it had used JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft jointly developed with China during the dogfight with Indian warplanes on February 27.
India’s contention is that Pakistan had used AMRAAM missile during the dogfight which could only be loaded on an F-16 aircraft.
