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Indian Sukhoi Which Pakistan Claimed It Shot Down Post-Balakot, Seen Flying During IAF Day Celebrations
Swarajya Staff
Oct 09, 2019, 01:24 PM | Updated 01:24 PM IST
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In a big embarrassment for Pakistan an Indian Sukhoi Su-30 MKI which it had claimed it shot down during post-Balakot dogfight, was seen flying during Indian Air Force (IAF) day celebrations.
So Avenger 1 (extreme right aircraft), an IAF Su-30 that Pak insisted was downed a day after Balakot ... makes an appearance on Air Force day, apparently flown by the same pilots who were ``shot down.'' The IAF provides transparency, what about Pak and #doosrabanda? pic.twitter.com/Qg5MXmBb3I
— Vishnu Som (@VishnuNDTV) October 8, 2019
In the image the Sukhoi (extreme right) which goes via the Avenger-1 call sign was seen roaring in the skies while flying the Avenger formation with four other jets.
Soon after the India-Pakistan dogfight on 26 February, Pakistan Army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Gafoor had claimed that it had captured two Indian pilots and downed two jets - MiG21 Bison and a Sukhoi.
This was later disproved and it has been widely speculated that the claim was Pakistan’s attempt to cover up the downing of its F-16 by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
It has also been rumoured that the second Indian pilot which Pakistan claimed to have captured, was actually a member of the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) who was flying the downed F-16.
He is said to have succumbed to his injuries - but Pakistan is yet to acknowledge the same.
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