NEW DELHI The Indian Air Force (IAF), Army and Navy said on Thursday that they were on high alert and that Pakistani jets tried to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir a day earlier but were pushed back.
Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor told the media at a tri-service press conference that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) breached the Indian airspace west of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.
The Pakistani attempt was to target Indian military installations but the Pakistani jets were forced to retreat by Indian MiG, Sukhoi and Mirage aircraft.
Air Vice Marshal Kapoor said while Pakistan claimed that its jets fired bombs in open areas, “the fact is that Pakistan targeted military installations but we thwarted their plans. The bombs were unable to cause any significant damage due to swift IAF action”.
“IAF remains ever vigilant and ready to take on any eventuality,” he said.
He refuted Pakistan’s claims that it had not used F-16s on Wednesday and said that one F-16 was shot down by a MiG-21 Bison.
Responding to a few questions about the bombing on JeM camps in Balakot, Kapoor said that it is premature to say the number of casualties on the camp. Whatever we intended to destroy we got that result, he asserted. We have evidence to show that whatever we wanted to do and targets we wanted to destroy, we have done that. The decision to show the evidence is on senior leadership.
Major General S.S. Mahal said that PAF’s targets on Wednesday included a Brigade Headquarters, a Battalion Headquarters and logistics installations in Jammu and Kashmir.
But their designs were foiled because of the high level of preparedness by the Indian armed forces, he said.
He said Indian weapons systems had been put on high alert and mechanized forces had been placed on standby. “We are fully prepared to respond to any provocation.”
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 D.S. Gujral said: “The Indian Navy is deployed in a high state of readiness and remains poised in three dimensions — surface, under the sea and in air to deter, prevent and defeat any misadventure by Pakistan in the maritime domain.
“I can assure you of a resolute, swift and strong response by the Navy whenever needed.”
Pakistan lied that no F-16 was used but there was enough evidence, Kapoor said.
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