“We will fight back if Pakistan provokes” says IAF

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE:  On Thursday, the Indian Air Force warned that India will fight back if there is any provocation after Pakistan has intensified matters by targeting Indian military installations.

India’s military establishment has made it clear that it will continue to target terror camps across the border if Pakistan does not stop supporting the terrorist organization.

Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor of the IAF, Major General Surinder Singh Mahal of the Army and Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral of the Navy held the conference outside the Ministry of Defense after Pakistan announced Varthaman’s release.

In the joint briefing, senior officers of India’s Air Force, Army and Navy did not give any weight to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to release Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman as a peace gesture. Contradictory to that, the stated “only in consonance with the Geneva Convention.”

Major General Mahal said “Our fight is against terrorism. Till Pakistan supports it, we will target terror training camps.”

He further added that despite the turn of events, the Indian Army will continue to act against terror activities.

On Wednesday’s aerial combat, one F-16 of the Pakistan Air Force was shot down by an Indian Air Force MiG 21 Bison aircraft. The F-16 crashed and fell across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Air Force lost one MiG 21 aircraft. Though Varthaman ejected safely, his parachute drifted into Jammu Kashmir’s Pakistan section, after which he was taken into custody.

India has maintained that the IAF carried out a “pre-emptive strike” in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which 40 CRPF troops were killed.

The aerial strikes were carried out on credible intelligence that more such attacks were being planned from the JeM terror camp.

“There is credible evidence of the damage to the terrorist camp. It would be premature to say anything about the number of casualties. Whatever we intended to destroy we achieved,” Air Vice Marshal Kapoor said.

He added that it was up to the political leadership to decide when and how to release the evidence.

He quoted “There is no doubt that Pakistan attempted to target military installations, but their design to deliver bombs was thwarted.”

The briefing was postponed by two hours from 5 pm after Pakistan PM Imran Khan announced Varthaman’s release.