MEA confirms MiG-21 pilot missing in action, India verifying Pak claims of capture

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that India shot down Pakistani jet and lost 1 MiG 21, adding that one pilot was missing in action.

"India had informed about Counter Terrorism (CT) action it took yesterday against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan based on credible evidence that JeM intended to launch more attacks. Against this Counter Terrorism Action, Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan's attempts were foiled successfully.

The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts."

Major General Asif Gafoor, the spokesperson for the Pakistani military, earlier held a press conference claiming that Pakistani fighter jets had carried out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir.

Gafoor said that Pakistani jets also shot down two Indian Air Force fighters, one of which crashed in Pakistan-controlled territory. Both pilots of the crashed jet were taken in custody.

Pakistan also released a video claiming that it is of an Indian pilot named Abhinandan during the press conference.

On Tuesday, Ghafoor said that Pakistan had no option than to give a reply to the airstrikes by the Indian Air Force in Balakot.

This took place a day after the Indian Air Force carried out a pre-emptive airstrike in Pakistan targetting a Jaish-e-Mohmmad(JeM) terrorist camp in Balkot.

The camp, Jaish's largest in Pakistan, was completely destroyed in the strike and several terrorists and commanders were killed, Indian government said.