India aware of identity of Pak F16 pilot: Sitharaman

Even as Pakistan has so far denied that its F-16 was shot down on February 27 by India, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Indian forces know the identity of the Pakistani pilot. His F-16 was hit by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s Mig-21 Bison on that day.

The Pakistani pilot was killed after he was reportedly beaten up by locals when he ejected and landed in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) in a case of mistaken identity. The pilot reportedly later died in the hospital. However, Pakistan continues to deny the twin loss of F-16 or its pilot.

Making this assertion during a security conclave hosted by a private television channel on Tuesday, Sitharaman had said the Indian military