Pakistan Army has once again rejected Indian claims of shooting down a Pakistani F-16 and the use of F-16 in air battle on February 27. In a statement issued on Monday, the Inter-Services Public Relations said the event was part of history now. "No Pakistani F-16 was hit by Indian Air Force," it said.
The military's media wing added that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) action for strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) was taken by JF-17 from within Pakistan airspace. "When two Indian jets crossed the LoC, they were shot down by PAF," it said.
The question whether the two IAF planes were hit by F-16 or by JF-17 was meaningless, the communique added. "Even if F-16s were used, at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F-16s. The fact remains that PAF shot down two Indian jets in self-defence. It is India's choice to pick F-16 or any other aircraft, the result remains the same." Pakistan, it added, retained the right to use "anything and everything" in its legitimate self-defence.