Pakistani Diplomat Elaborates on JF-17’s Role in Clashes with India

In recent interviews by Russian state media prominent Pakistani diplomat Asif Durrani has elaborated on the role of the country’s indigenous JF-17 Thunder light fighters played in clashes with the Indian Air Force which took place in late February 2019.  The diplomat was first asked about statements by the Pakistani Foreign Office that Delhi’s claims regarding the downing of an F-16 were intended to satisfy Indian domestic audiences. Durrani replied: “We didn’t use the F-16s; we, in fact, used JF-17 Thunder, which is made by Pakistan and China in joint collaboration. So, it is all wrong; (it is) propaganda by the Indians. While they have been engaging in this kind of propaganda, it has not served their purpose and if they want to do it, by all means they can do it.” India notably presented AIM-120C-5 American made air to air missiles as evidence that the F-16 was shot down - though this was highly a highly controversial conclusion which could just as well have represented a failed air to air kill by Pakistan rather than necessarily a downed Fighting Falcon. The F-16 is the only fighter in the Pakistani inventory compatible with the AIM-120 missile type, and the missile’s recovery does strongly indicate that the U.S. made jets were involved - contradicting the claims of Durrani. However, there has been little evidence that the F-16 was shot down.

There is evidence that both the JF-17 and the F-16, as Pakistan's two prime fighter jets, were involved in border clashes - with the older second and third generation jets which comprised the bulk of the Pakistani fleet such as the Mirage III and J-7 held in reserve. Pakistan continues to claim however, that Indian fighters shot down were all targeted by the JF-17 - which remains uncertain. Ultimately it remains in Islamabad’s interests to portray its indigenous fighter as responsible for air to air victories, and though the JF-17 Block 2 has not previously been combat tested in remains in many ways superior to the F-16 in its combat performance. Whether details of these clashes can ever be confirmed remains to be seen.