Real Story Behind India’s “Air Strike” and Why PAF Didn’t Shoot Down the Jets

As everyone knows by now, at least two Indian jets crossed the Line of Control through Muzaffarabad sector and entered into Pakistani air space earlier in the morning today.

The incident was met with a swift response with Pakistan Air Force scrambling their jets; however, Indian jets turned back quickly and didn’t get more than 5 kilometers into Pakistan.

Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that IAF jets were showing up on radars continuously throughout Indian Occupied Kashmir since midnight. While Pakistani Air Force has been on high alert for several days now, it was around 3:30 AM tonight that PAF had to scramble for two incoming fighter jets that crossed the line.

However, before PAF jets could intercept, the intruding jets realized that they violated Pakistan’s airspace and turned back quickly.

First things first: IAF Jets didn’t reach Balakot, instead they didn’t cross the LoC by more than 4-5 KMs only.

Possible Reasons for Violation

While we don’t have informed sources willing to talk about the reasons just yet, we think that this violation was a mistake and Indian jets went astray of their flight path.

This is evident from the fact that IAF jets returned back immediately and didn’t penetrate deeply into Pakistani side of the LoC.

It must be mentioned here that Pakistani jets didn’t take on Indian jets one on one, in fact, Indian jets retreated before it came to that.

On their way back, Indian jets dropped the payload to hasten their retreat.

Airspace violation, and why we think it was a mistake, was not acknowledged by Indian Government even after several hours of the incident.

Indian Ministry of Defense, in fact, was unaware of the incidents till 9AM (Indian Time), as reported by The Reuters and various other Indian publications.

Not only the government, Indian Media was actually caught sleeping even hours after the incident and Indian TVs weren’t showing anything until 6:30AM.

But regardless, as one can expect, Indian media misunderstood the tweet of DG ISPR, Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, and said that Indian jets entered into Pakistani airspace by more than 60 kilometers to a place called Balakot where camps were destroyed.

If you have seen war news before, any strikes are backed by visuals. If Indian jets had destroyed any camps, they would have shot the videos — which is a norm these days — and could have relayed it to Indian media as proof.

However, Indian media has no visuals of the strike at all.

Gen Asif Ghafoor, on the other hand, was quick to upload the images where Indian jets dropped their payload before rushing back to Indian side of LoC.

Another possible reason for violation could be that it was calculated and strategic. Such as measuring the response time, as well as the preparedness of PAF fighters; and much more.

Not only this, but it could also be a calculated move the by Modi government, i.e. to get into Pakistani Airspace and run back and label the incident as a strike (like the one they had before) to win Indian hearts and ultimately the upcoming elections.

Why Pakistan Didn’t Shoot Down the Indian Aircraft

Again, this is all opinion and not based on informed sources. We think Pakistani jets had (and still have) the option of moving into Indian Airspace to show a response.

However, by not doing so, Pakistan has kept its cool and avoided a confrontation that could cost both nations.

One thing is very clear, full-scale war is not an option. And avoiding escalation on such small scale incidents is the best we can do especially when the other side is acting foolishly.

Not to mention, Pakistan has the option of playing this Indian move very aggressively at the diplomatic front, particularly with OIC summit starting today where Indian Foreign Minister is also invited to listen and speak.

Pakistan has the upper hand now and can make the most of the mistake that Indian pilots have made.

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • First impression is the last impression. We had made big mistake by not shooting down indian intruder aircrafts. Now they will violate in future also. We have example of Turkey which had shot down russian fighter jet. After that no jet violated Turkish air space.

    • Bhai, hum ne India ko kuch bhi impression nahin dena. Hm ne dunya ko dikhana hai k hum aman pasand hain.

    • I agree with you,
      but this is not the first time they violated air space, (but sirgical strike and air strike is Drama)
      On Zardari and Nawaz era, their Jett Violated many times,
      On Musharf time their Army Helicopter violated air space but were Shoot Down

    • Agreed to Abdullah. Simply mobilizing Aircraft to chase them is not the good action. We should in place SAM or any missile system to hunt down Boogies immediately.

    • It will be an insane choice to simply shoot down the jets as that will be act of war. Same would have happened if Indian jets had opened fire on one of our jets but they did not as they are aware of the severity of this action and chose to flee. They have been warned this time and as its said, the first time its a mistake, the second time its a choice. They will not come here again or they won’t be going back.

  • 1. Bala Kot, you mentioned in the story is not in AJK it is located in IoK, if the point in discussion is correct then there is no intrusion.
    2. The PICs released by ISPR clearly mentioning Balakot not Bala Kot.
    3. Indian Sec of State in a recent new briefing accepted that they targeted the Balakot, however they didn’t revealed the exact location of the area.

  • as my my information which may be wrong, there is some UN rules and regulations for air combat i.e. if a fighter plane of country A crosses LOC of country B by mistake & then runs back, if hit by oponent country A & falls within 5 KM of own country B border, it will be considered as violation by oponent country.

  • Yes you all maybe right that that PAF must have responded immediately which they did … however my ideology is not to let them enter into our air space by 1 inch

  • بہت سی باتیں ابھی سوچنے والی ہیں:
     
    1- پاکستان کے مطابق بھارتی تیارے 3,4 میل تک اندر آئے تھے۔
    2- پاکستان ائیرفورس کا رسپونس ٹائم 5 سے 7 منٹ تھا, جس کے بعد بھارتی طیارے اپنا پےلوڈ گرا کر واپس چلے گئے۔
    3-کچھ لوگوں کا کہنا ہے کہ لائن آف کنٹرول والے بالاکوٹ تک آئے ہیں، جو کہ  لائن آف کنٹرول سے 3,4 کلومیٹر اندر ہے۔

    4- بھارت کے مطابق وہ  مانسہرہ والے بالاکوٹ تک آئے تھے، جو کہ 160کلومیٹر تک پاکستانی حدود میں ہے۔
    5-بھارتی Mirage 2000 کی ٹاپ اسپیڈ 2300 کلومیٹر فی گھنٹہ سے زیادہ ہے، اور فی طیارہ 4 ٹن تک پے لوڈ لے کر اڑ سکتا ہے۔
    6- بھارت ک مطابق ان کے طیارے 21 منٹ تک پاکستانی حدود میں پرواز میں رہے۔

    اب سوچنے کی بات :

    1- بھارتی Mirage 2000 کو 3,4 میل تک اندر آنے میں چند سیکنڈ لگے ہوں گے، اس دوران 5,7 منٹ کا رسپونس ٹائم بہت زیادہ ہے، اس دوران بھارتی طیارے جو کچھ کرنا چاہتے تھے کر سکتے تھے۔
    2- پے لوڈ گرانے کا مقصد طیارے کا وزن کم کرنا ہے تا کہ اسپیڈ بڑھائی جا سکے، لائن آف کنٹرول والے بالاکوٹ سے واپسی کے لئے اس کی ضرورت نہیں ہونی تھی، لیکن اگر وہ مانسہرہ سے واپس جا رہے ہوں تو  21 منٹ کی پرواز  بھی ممکن تھی۔

  • Salay hindu! LOC kay ooper say he guzar kay chalay jatai hain aur boltain hain we striked in Pakistan.

    The agony is that if we strike back with bomb gola we are in fact hitting the muslims residing in IOK.
    this is why they never make such claims or cross the line at other sides of the border since they know that if we strike their will be huge casualty of their Indian citizens

    • WAR NEVER RESOLVE PROBLEMS.

      By Engineer Nazir Malik Sargodha

      Pakistan and India Both Nations should think, what will be the aftermath effects of the war, however now time has been changed as both countries are nuclear states and if problem accelerated then it could be irreparable loss for the entire region. Both must learn lesson from the last seven decades permanent ignition. Try to resolve the kashmir dispute bilaterally.

      It is worth to mention that nine times in the last 72 years both nations blaming each other but core issue of Kashmir dispute is still there.

      Timeline of India-Pakistan tensions

      1- October 1947: First war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir just two months after they become independent nations.

      2- August 1965: The neighbours fight another brief war over Kashmir.

      3- December 1971: India supports East Pakistan’s bid to become independent. The Indian air force conducts bombing raids inside Pakistan. The war ends with the creation of Bangladesh.

      4- May1999 Pakistani soldiers and militants occupy Indian military posts in Kargil mountains. India launches air and ground strikes and the intruders are pushed back.

      5- October 2001
      A devastating attack on the state assembly in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 38. Two months later, an attack on the Indian parliament in Delhi leaves 14 dead.

      6- November 2008 Co-ordinated attacks on Mumbai’s main railway station, luxury hotels and a Jewish cultural centre kill 166 people. India blames Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

      7- January 2016 Four-day attack on Indian air base in Pathankot leaves seven Indian soldiers and six militants dead.

      8- September, 18 2016: Attack on army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 19 soldiers.

      9- September 30, 2016: India says it carried “surgical strikes” on militants in Pakistani Kashmir. Islamabad denies strikes took place.

  • Balakot is in Pakistani territory not in AJK. Its boundaries touch with Muzaffarabad. Its part of Mansehra. So it can be counted as violation of international boarder.

  • masses can be satisfied by the above, but not those who actually know how it happen. first of all there is an agreement among India and Pakistan that no fighter plane will enter the space within 10 km along line of control on either side during peace time. Whereas during a war like scenario like currently is, any aircraft entering this 10 km area along line of control will be considered act aggression hence will be shot down.
    Why did not Pakistan Air Defense and PAF react and gave the a chance to hype the situation in media which is humiliating. Also there videos mushrooming even Pakistan tv channels are visitng the area near Balakot which is more than 40km from LOC where people are claiming Indian jets intrude.

  • WAR NEVER RESOLVE PROBLEMS.

    By Engineer Nazir Malik Sargodha

    Pakistan and India Both Nations should think, what will be the aftermath effects of the war, however now time has been changed as both countries are nuclear states and if problem accelerated then it could be irreparable loss for the entire region. Both must learn lesson from the last seven decades permanent ignition. Try to resolve the kashmir dispute bilaterally.

    It is worth to mention that nine times in the last 72 years both nations blaming each other but core issue of Kashmir dispute is still there.

    Timeline of India-Pakistan tensions

    1- October 1947: First war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir just two months after they become independent nations.

    2- August 1965: The neighbours fight another brief war over Kashmir.

    3- December 1971: India supports East Pakistan’s bid to become independent. The Indian air force conducts bombing raids inside Pakistan. The war ends with the creation of Bangladesh.

    4- May1999 Pakistani soldiers and militants occupy Indian military posts in Kargil mountains. India launches air and ground strikes and the intruders are pushed back.

    5- October 2001
    A devastating attack on the state assembly in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 38. Two months later, an attack on the Indian parliament in Delhi leaves 14 dead.

    6- November 2008 Co-ordinated attacks on Mumbai’s main railway station, luxury hotels and a Jewish cultural centre kill 166 people. India blames Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

    7- January 2016 Four-day attack on Indian air base in Pathankot leaves seven Indian soldiers and six militants dead.

    8- September, 18 2016: Attack on army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 19 soldiers.

    9- September 30, 2016: India says it carried “surgical strikes” on militants in Pakistani Kashmir. Islamabad denies strikes took place.

  • If Pakistan wanted to shoot down penetrating jets it could have done easily by deploying Air Def Core resources like Shouler monted anti aircraft missiles or Radar controlled anti air craft missiles like Crotal. And may be we do it to teach a lesson to intruders

  • Sir , abhe wait karen, Pak army ki taraf sy zaroor jawab dya jaega, Patriotic Song Bana kar :-p
    Such a Shame for Pakistan
    As a pakistani, i feel ashamed.

  • Sorry, but a completely “PAID” and “SOLD” article. Anyone very stupid can also see what crap and lies are written here. Again apologies but please be honest now.

  • Why JEM does in Pakistan. He is spoiling future of Pakistan peace loving people (Atleast they have many if not all) and their generations. Until Pakistan aavam oppose terrorist outfits, politician would continue using it and waste their valuable resources for proxy war with their neighbors. What each country got they should try to make it better.


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