New Delhi: India has shared with the United States the evidence of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet shot down in an aerial combat on Wednesday to show it had misused the assets acquired from America under the “flight against terrorism” in 2008. The recovery of parts of the AIM-120C-5 advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) that can be fired only from this aircraft from the compound of a military facility in Rajouri area shows F-16 was deployed for a military attack on India.
The parts were showcased by the Indian Air Force on Thursday night at a tri-service joint press meet. One part had details of production number that can be tracked by the US, the IAF officers said. The US will also be provided the electronic signature of the aircraft captured by the Indian radars and a video of two pilots ejecting from the fighter in PoK and photos of the debris of F-16 jet takeen by the Pak media.
Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said the plane waas shot down b IAF MiG 21 Bison flied by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was arresed and later released by Pakistan, as the heavy winds took his parachut to PoK side after he ejected from his aircraft lost in the air battle.
India had objected back in 2008 when the US provided a $890 million funds to Pakistan to upgrade 46 F-16 A/B fighters to a new generation block 52 version for anti-terror operations. India had complained even then that the funds will be used by Islamabad against India and that its alibi of using them for the anti-terror operations was false.
Pakistan had acquired 500 AMRAAM missiles that can be launched only from F-16 jet and other bombs under the upgrade deal that was objected by the US lawmakers, but overruled on the ground Pakistan’s help was essential to fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The tri-service press meet blew up Pak’s lie of not using any F-16 jet in the failed attack on Indian military establishment in J&K.
PULWAMA EVIDENCE: Meanwhile, a dossier, to the Pak deputy high commissioner in New Delhi on Wednesday and also shared with other embassies include a video of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and suicide bomber Adil Dar involved in blowing 40 CRPF men in the attack on their convoy in Pulwama on February 14.
