News / India confirms one IAF pilot is missing in action: Full text of MEA briefing

India Today : Feb 27, 2019, 04:17 PM
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday confirmed that India shot down Pakistani jet and lost 1 MiG 21, adding that one pilot was missing in action. Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody.Here's the full statement given by MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on February 27, 2019:

"India had informed about Counter Terrorism (CT) action it took yesterday against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan based on credible evidence that JeM intended to launch more attacks. Against this Counter Terrorism Action, Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan's attempts were foiled successfully.

The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts."

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