Indian media's reports about shooting down of a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 fighter jet were "a blatant lie and fake news", security sources said on Thursday, terming such reports a manifestation of Indian decision-makers' confusion and mental paralysis after the loss of dozens of drones in Pakistan.
According to the sources, India had become increasingly disoriented following the failure of its recent Harop drone incursions. The Pakistan Armed Forces, they asserted, were fully prepared to counter any hostile designs and remained vigilant against India's nefarious intentions.
"In a state of panic," a security source said, "India is now attempting to justify potential future aggression against Pakistan by fabricating stories of attacks in Rajasthan, Pathankot, and Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir [IIOJK]."
Observers note a striking resemblance between the current disinformation campaign and India's fake narrative following the 2019 aerial skirmish during Operation Swift Retort. At that time, Pakistan shot down two Indian fighter jets in response to Indian airstrikes in Balakot.
India, however, claimed that one of its pilots, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman - who was captured after ejecting from his downed MiG-21 — had managed to shoot down a Pakistani F-16 before his own aircraft was brought down. Pakistan denied the F-16 claim.
Later that year, Foreign Policy magazine cited US defence officials, who had accounted for all Pakistani F-16s and found none missing — contradicting India's assertion. Following the report, the then military spokesperson stated: "India's claims about the attack and its consequences are false. It's time India told the truth about the loss of its second jet shot down by Pakistan."
Despite the lack of independent verification, India's then president Ram Nath Kovind awarded Wing Commander Abhinandan the Vir Chakra — India's third-highest wartime military honour — for 'downing' a Pakistani F-16. Pakistan maintains its stance that two Indian jets were shot down in 2019, and that no PAF F-16 was lost in the exchange.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office categorically rejected the "baseless and irresponsible allegations propagated by the Indian media" of Pakistan launching attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar, saying that these claims were entirely unfounded, politically motivated, and reckless propaganda.
The repeated pattern of levelling accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilise the region," the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement late on Thursday.
"Such actions not only further endanger regional peace but also reveal a disturbing willingness to exploit misinformation for political and military ends. We urge the international community to take serious note of this dangerous behaviour and to counsel India toward restraint and responsibility," he continued.
"Any escalation based on false pretences will be met with full resolve and determination to safeguard Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan remains vigilant and firmly committed to peace, but it will not be deterred by attempts to provoke, intimidate, or mislead and reserves the right to respond to acts of aggression. These allegations are rejected in the strongest possible terms."
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