WASHINGTON: Unites States’ renowned news publication ‘Foreign Policy’ magazine has rebuffed claims of Indian authorities stating that one of its fighter pilots shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet in an aerial battle in February.
According to Foreign Policy, India’s false claims were grounded after two senior defense officials of the United States told the magazine that U.S. personnel recently counted Islamabad’s F-16s and found none missing.
The magazine, in its article, claimed that India may have misled the international community about what happened that day.
It may be noted that the dogfight between India and Pakistan took place on February 27.
During the aerial battle that ensued, Indian Air Force’s Wing-commander Abhinandan Varthaman took a missile hit and ejected into Azad Kashmir of Pakistan.
He was captured by the Pakistani army and released only after 60 hours later in a pinnacle diplomatic and peaceful stance of prime minister Imran Khan, attempting to de-escalate the crisis.
