Journalism of Courage
The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy held a joint press briefing Thursday on the security situation between India and Pakistan. In the presser, the IAF presented evidence which show that Pakistan used F-16s to target Indian military installations in this mission. In picture (L-R), Indian Army Major General Surendra Singh Mahal, Indian Navy Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral and Indian Air Force Air Vice Marshall R G K Kapoor. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
As proof, India presented parts showing the cover and serial number markings of a fired AMRAAM missile which can only be fired from an F-16 aircraft. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
The evidence is critical to establishing use of the F-16s in the air strike since the US, which sold the fighter jets to Pakistan, does not allow these platforms to be used in an offensive role. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) missile, manufactured by American firm Raytheon, is available in many variations, and has been sold to many countries including Taiwan, Finland, the UAE, Turkey and Pakistan. This missile can only be fired from F-16s which are among the aircraft of the PAF.(Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
The debris presented was of AIM-120 C-5 AMRAAM missile, with markings showing the contract number of the missile as FA8675-05-C-0070 and serial number as CC12947. This is the contract number (FA8675-05-C-0070/P00028) placed by Headquarters Medium Range Missile Systems Group, Eglin Air Force Base for Foreign Military Sales to Pakistan on November 17, 2006.(Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
India had strongly opposed the US decision to sell eight F-16s to Pakistan in 2016, which also could not pass the muster in US Congress for Foreign Military Funding. This meant that the order was never placed. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
Pakistan agreed to buy about 70 F-16s in the 1980s, and about 40 were delivered before Congress cut off all aid and military sales in 1990, citing Pakistan’s secret development of nuclear weapons under the Pressler Amendment.(Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
