2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes
On 27 February 2019, Pakistan Air Force conducted six surprise airstrikes at multiple locations in Indian-Administered Jammu and Kashmir. The airstrikes were part of PAF military operation codename Operation Swift Retort and were conducted in retaliation of Indian Air Force airstrike in Balakot just a day before on 26 February.
It was the first time since 1971 that both countries airforces had crossed the Line of Control to conduct airstrikes on the opposing territories. India conducted an airstrike in Balakot on 26 February while Pakistan responded by conducting airstrike in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Following Pakistan's airstrikes, Indian Air Force jets started pursuing Pakistan Air Force jets. In the resulting dog fight, Pakistani officials claimed to have shot down two Indian jets and captured one Indian pilot. Indian officials acknowledged that one IAF jet was shot down. Indian officials also claim to have shot down a PAF's F-16 jet. Pakistan rejected Indian claims and said that PAF did not suffer any losses in the dog fight. One IAF Mil Mi-17 helicopter was also lost as a result of friendly fire, killing everyone aboard.
Background
On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The attack resulted in the deaths of 46 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and the attacker. The perpetrator of the attack was from Indian-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack resulting in a standoff between two nuclear armed nations. On 26 February 2019, Indian Air Force conducted an airstrike inside Pakistani territory. India said it targeted alleged militant camps of Jaish-e-Mohammed and killed large number of militants. Pakistan condemned the violation of LoC and vowed to retaliate. In a press conference spokesperson of Pakistan Army Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Pakistan will respond to the airstrike and will surprise India.He rejected India's claims of hitting militant camps and causing any damage or casualties. Ghafoor said that if it caused casualties there would have been blood and funeral prayers but not even a single brick or debris is present there. He further said that anyone can visit the site to verify the claims. The site is open for all ambassadors, defence attaches, United Nations Military Observers in Pakistan and even the civilians or the army representatives from India.
Airstrikes
On 27 February 2019, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Pakistan Air Force had conducted six airstrikes at non-military targets in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani officials claim that their aircraft were able to lock onto the target with great accuracy but they were ordered to drop their bombs in an open field in order to avoid any human loss or collateral damage. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan claim that the strikes were meant to send a message to India. Around 25 JF-17 had crossed Line of Control to hit targets in Indian administered Kashmir. The locations were identified to be Nadian, Laam Jhangar, Kerri in Rajouri District and Hamirpur area of Bhimber Ghali in Poonch by Indian officials. Indian officials, however, denied that the target of Pakistani airstrike were non-military targets. Indian officials claimed that the Pakistan Air Force jets had deliberately targeted military positions like the Indian army's 25th division headquarters, ammunition and supply depot. Pakistan Air Force jets were reported to have crossed from Nowshera into Indian-administered Kashmir. Later on, PAF jets were intercepted by an unspecified number of IAF jets. The IAF fleet was composed of MiG-21, Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Dassault Mirage 2000.The announcement was followed by a tweet of Director general of the ISPR Maj Gen. Asif Ghafoor revealed that the Pakistan Air Force had shot down two Indian aircraft after they encroached on Pakistan's airspace. Wreckage of one of the aircraft fell in Azad Kashmir while the other one fell in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. One of the aircraft which crashed in Azad Kashmir was identified to be a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 flown by Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman. He was captured by Pakistan military unit who were present in the premises. The villagers at the ground also claim that they saw two jets in flame. They claim that one jet fell in Azad Kashmir while the other one sped toward Indian-administered Kashmir. The other IAF military aircraft were said to be Sukhoi Su-30MKI according to Pakistani media. However, Indian officials rejected Pakistani claims of shooting down of IAF Su-30 MKI jets and said that it was an attempt by Pakistan to cover-up the loss of its F-16. The Indian defence research wing website reports that there were no reports of a large aircraft crash in Indian administered Kashmir and its impossible to hide an aircraft crash as of now. Pakistan at the beginning said that it caught more than one Indian pilot and said one was admitted to CMH hospital, but changed their statement after some time and to say only one pilot is in their custody.
Indian officials initially denied that an Indian Air Force jet was shot down. They also claimed that all IAF pilots were accounted for and denied that any IAF pilot was captured by Pakistani security forces. Later on, Indian officials acknowledged that one IAF Mig-21 was shot down and its pilot was in the custody of Pakistan security forces. The Indian Air Force also claimed to have shot down one F-16 by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from his Mig-21 aircraft. However, Pakistani officials rejected India's claim. Pakistani officials claimed that "in today's day and age, it is impossible to hide downing of an aircraft".
Friendly fire
On the same day 1 Indian Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashed killing 6 Indian Air Force personnel and 1 civilian in the Budgam district. Initially India claimed that the helicopter crashed because of technical failure. However, after six months of investigation, Indian officials revealed that the helicopter was shot down by Indian owned Israeli-manufactured SPYDER air defense system. The SPYDER air defense system fired a missile in response to Pakistan Air Force jets who had crossed Line of Control. However, the missile had instead hit the Mi-17 helicopter killing all the people on board and a civilian on the ground. After the investigation, five IAF personnel were held guilty in the case. The families of IAF personnel allege that the government officials tried to hide the facts from them. They allege that the matter of friendly fire was hushed up to avoid embarrassment for current government during the election season. They also allege that some members of Indian Air Force, who were colleagues of the IAF personnel on board the helicopter, had also hinted that a friendly fire had brought down the helicopter but they told the family members of the victims to remain silent.Aftermath
Indian reaction
India's Ministry of External Affairs in a press conference confirmed that PAF violated LoC and entered Indian territory through Nowshera and Poonch sector shooting down one IAF jet and its pilot going missing. India also claimed to have shot down one PAF F-16 Fighting Falcon. A claim which was denied by Pakistan saying no F-16 was used in the operation. Indian officials also rejected Pakistani claims of shooting down an Su-30MKI.On 28 February, Indian officials again alleged that two Pakistan Air Force jets have violated Indian airspace. According to the Indian officials, the PAF jets were intercepted over Poonch and Krishna Gati sector. However, no aerial combat took place and PAF jets returned to their airspace.
Christine Fair, an expert on South Asian political and military affairs, stated that no F-16 was shot down by Indian air force. She made these statements while attending a military literature festival in India.
Pakistan
DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor later conducted a press conference stating: "Since today morning activity has been ongoing at LoC. This morning PAF engaged six targets across LoC from within Pakistani airspace". He also said that the strikes were carried out to just demonstrate Pakistan's aggressive capabilities. Pakistan asserted that no F-16 was used in the operation. Initially Pakistani officials claimed that two IAF personnel were caught but later corrected their statement and stated that only one IAF personnel was in their custody. Pakistani officials stated that it was the fog of war which led them to believe that there were two IAF personnel in their custody.Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the nation saying that the sole purpose of our action was to convey that "if you can come into our country, we can do the same". Khan also offered India for peace talks.
United States
According to Foreign Policy journalist Lara Seligman, U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the matter asserted that the US has recently completed a physical count of Pakistan's F-16s and has found none missing. One US official also disagreed with India's claim that usage restrictions disallow Pakistan from employing F-16s in military encounters with India. Indian newspaper, Hindustan Times, reported that United States Department of Defense spokesman claimed that he was "not aware" of any such investigation that was conducted and stated "As a matter of policy, the Department does not publicly comment on details of government-to-government agreements on end-use monitoring of US-origin defence articles." However, The Washington Post reported that like the Pentagon, the State Department has yet to issue any public statement on F-16 count.In December 2019, USNews reported that the United States had sent a letter to Pakistan Air Force in August expressing its concern about the alleged misuse of F-16s during the skirmish in February. The letter mentioned the State Department's confirmation that Pakistan had violated its agreement with the US by deploying F-16s and its complement of missiles to unauthorized forward air bases.