Can use anything in legitimate self-defence: Pakistan on F-16 jet use against India
Islamabad, Apr 1 (IBNS): After denying for weeks that it had not used US-manufactured F-16 fighter jets in its attempted counter-strike against India, the Pakistan military took a different stance on Monday and declared that it had the right to use the fighter jet in "legitimate self-defence".
The country also claimed that no Pakistani F-16 was hit by Indian Air Force.
"As regard PAF action for strikes across LOC it was done by JF17 from within Pakistan airspace. Later when 2 Indian jets crossed LOC they were shot down by PAF. Whether it was F16 or JF17 which shot down 2 Indian aircrafts is immaterial," Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations said in a statement.
Making a change in its claim, Pakistan said it reserves the right to use even F16 against India in "self-defence".
"Even if F-16 have been used as at that point in time complete PAF was airborne including F16s, the fact remains that Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian jets in self defence. India can assume any type of their choice even F-16. Pakistan retains the right to use anything and everything in its legitimate self defence," the statement further said.
Earlier, the Indian Armed Forces in a joint briefing had furnished proof of Pakistan's use of F-16 jet targeting the Indian military installations though the design was foiled by the Indian side.
The Armed Forces had shown the parts of F16 jet which were used by Pakistan to target Indian Army debunking Pakistan's denial on the use of F16.
Pakistan posses several batches of F-16 fighter planes built by the United States.
However, as per the clauses, these fighter jets will not be used in aggression against any other country, but only in the war against terror.
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