Security sources in Pakistan have firmly dismissed Indian media reports claiming that a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 fighter jet was shot down, calling the narrative “a blatant lie and fake news.”
Officials suggest that India is spreading disinformation in response to its failed Harop drone missions and continued military setbacks. According to sources, these failures have led to confusion and panic in Indian leadership, prompting fabricated reports of attacks in Rajasthan, Pathankot, and Indian-Occupied Kashmir as a pretext for further aggression.
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Pakistan’s Armed Forces have reiterated their full preparedness to counter any threat and remain vigilant against Indian hostility. Analysts have compared the current narrative to India’s disputed claims during the 2019 Operation Swift Retort, where Pakistan shot down two Indian aircraft in response to the Balakot airstrikes.
While India claimed that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman downed a Pakistani F-16 before being shot down and captured, Pakistan has consistently denied losing any F-16s. A report by Foreign Policy later cited U.S. officials confirming all Pakistani F-16s were accounted for, contradicting India’s assertions.
Despite this, India awarded Abhinandan the Vir Chakra, its third-highest wartime military honor. Pakistan continues to maintain that both Indian jets were downed, and no Pakistani F-16 was lost.
