New Delhi: Among many speculations swirling in the media ecosystem over the last four days was that of India losing one of its Rafael fighter jets during the conflict with Pakistan.
Pakistan claimed that two of the 36 French fighter jets – purchased for a staggering 8 billion euros a few years ago – had been downed in the course of the conflict between May 7 and 10.
Asked about the truth at Sunday evening’s detailed media briefing by senior personnel of Indian Armed forces, Air Marshal AK Bharti neither confirmed nor denied the claims.
“We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of it. Question is have we achieved our objective? Answer is a thumping yes. As for details, at this time I would not like to comment on that as we are still in combat and give advantage to adversary. All our pilots are back home,” the DGAO said.
It’s being interpreted as an admission that at least one Rafale has been brought down. , though the details are not known — whether in Pakistani territory or on Indian soil? And if that is true, what happened to the pilots?
As for Pakistani losses, DGAO Air Marshal Bharti said India “definitely downed a few of their fighter jets“.
A viral report on social media saying that a female Indian Air Force pilot Squadron Leader Shivani Singh was captured by Pakistan was dismissed as false by Indian government.
