Joint services briefing: 'All 3 forces ever ready, prepared for any eventuality'

New Delhi:The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force held a joint services briefing here on Thursday. The press conference is being held in the backdrop of escalating tension between India and Pakistan and abduction of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor, Major General SS Mahal and Rear Admiral DS Gujral addressed the media and said all the three forces were ever ready and prepared for any eventuality.

AVM RGK Kapoor refuted Pakistan's claims that it had not used F-16s to bomb India's military installations on Wednesday morning and said that one F-16 was shot down by a MiG-21 Bison.

He added that the IAF lost one MiG-21 in the aerial engagement and the pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman ejected safely out of the jet. However, his parachute drifted towards PoJ&K where he was taken into custody by the Pakistani Army.

Kapoor further said that Pakistan had made several factually incorrect statements and one of them was that they intentionally dropped bombs in open space to avoid any casualties.

However, the Pakistani aircrafts targeted Indian military installations but were intercepted by the IAFaircrafts, he said and added that the bombs fell in the Indian Army formation compound, but fortunately, there was no significant damage reported.



Kapoor said, "Besides, Pakistan also lied that no F16s were used in the operation and IAF did not shoot down any of theiraircrafts. However, there are enoughevidencesto prove the fact. Parts of air to air missiles were recovered from Rajouri which are carried only in F16."

He emphasised that the IAF was ever vigilant and ready for any eventuality. He also expressed happiness over Pakistan's decision to return Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

Addressing the media, Major General SS Mahal said that on Wednesday PAF jets tried to target a Brigade Headquarters, a Battalion Headquarters and logistics installations in J&K, but their designs were foiled because of the high level of preparedness by the Indian armed forces.

He added that thePakistan Army had been consistently violating the ceasefire after February 14, but the Indian Army had given them a befitting response in their style itself.

He added that Indian Army's weapons systems were on high alert and its mechanized forces were on standby in the wake of the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) attempts to hit Indian military installations a day earlier.

Rear Admiral DS Gujral said that the Indian Navy was deployed in a high state of readiness to deter and defeat any misadventure by Pakistan in the maritime domain. He assured of a resolute and swift response by the Indian Navy in the time of need.