Radar images of an air battle between Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman and a Pakistani jet during a February air duel were shown by the air force today as "irrefutable proof" that a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet had been shot down by India. IAF sources also said that it has conclusive "circumstantial evidence,” including wireless intercepts, signals and graphic captures from Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and electronic signatures, to conclude that the F-16 jet was shot down during aerial combat.

The government had said that in an aerial duel on February 27 - a day after India sent fighter jets to Pakistan's Balakot to strike a terror training camp - pilot Abhinandan Varthaman had engaged with one of the Pakistani fighter jets that tried to target Indian military facilities, and shot it down before he was hit and forced to eject.

Last week, a report published by Foreign Policy (FP) quoted two US defence officials and claimed that none of Pakistan's F-16s were missing. According to the report, an audit, conducted on invitation from Pakistan, had found all of the country’s F-16s intact.

Radar images of an air battle between Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman and a Pakistani jet during a February air duel were shown by the air force today as "irrefutable proof" that a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet had been shot down by India. IAF sources also said that it has conclusive "circumstantial evidence,” including wireless intercepts, signals and graphic captures from Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and electronic signatures, to conclude that the F-16 jet was shot down during aerial combat.

The government had said that in an aerial duel on February 27 - a day after India sent fighter jets to Pakistan's Balakot to strike a terror training camp - pilot Abhinandan Varthaman had engaged with one of the Pakistani fighter jets that tried to target Indian military facilities, and shot it down before he was hit and forced to eject.

Last week, a report published by Foreign Policy (FP) quoted two US defence officials and claimed that none of Pakistan's F-16s were missing. According to the report, an audit, conducted on invitation from Pakistan, had found all of the country’s F-16s intact.