Balakot Strike & Abhinandan's Return: The Tense Two Days Recalled | In Our Defence, S2, Ep 06
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2024
- The 2019 Balakot airstrike was a significant military operation conducted by the Indian Air Force in response to the Pulwama terrorist attack. This marked the first time since the 1971 War that Indian aircraft had conducted an airstrike on Pakistani soil.
The strike targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan. The Indian Mirage-2000 fighter pilots carried out the airstrike, aiming to eliminate terrorist threats.
The following day, the Pakistan Air Force retaliated with a strike in the Rajouri sector of Jammu. In the ensuing aerial battle, India claimed to have shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft while losing a MiG-21, with its Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman captured after ejecting over Pakistani-held territory. Later, he was repatriated.
The aftermath of the airstrike saw controversies, including unverified news in the newsrooms and conflicting reports. The duo, Dev Goswami and Shiv Aroor recount their experiences covering the event. They discuss the preparations for the airstrike and the controversies surrounding the strike; for one, the Indian Air Force has confirmed "hitting targets," but there is no official estimation of casualties - if any - yet, and Pakistan's response, exploring claims that they intentionally missed targets in India to avoid escalating to an all-out war.
Shiv Aroor and co-author Rahul Singh have also covered the detailed account of the Balakot airstrike, including planning, execution, and aftermath in their book 'India's Most Fearless.'
Listen in as we bring you the inside and unearthed details of the two tense days!
Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
You can also tune in here:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/68JNMdQ...
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Timestamps:
00.00-2:14-Note to Viewers
2:14-8:00-‘’We have just bombed Pakistan?”
8:00-17:50-How did pilots carry out the mission?
17:50-37:20-Retaliation from Pakistan
37:20-47:30- Mood in the military establishment when Abhinandan was captured
47:30-58:22-Communication strategy crumbling
58:22-1:08:37-What did we achieve with the airstrike?
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This was a brilliant podcast. Having read India's most fearless parts 1 and 2, expected nothing else from Shiv. I will now listen to the other episodes as well. And yes , podcasts about the recent rising tensions between India China would be great to hear!
Totally, would love podcast on That.
Brilliant conversations. Getting to know it from Shiv is icing on the cake. My respect for our armed forces 🙏
Fab episode, learned so much of real inside info on this incident... I'm going to watch all episodes of this series.! Good work guys
Absolutely loved the conversation. Keep more such podcasts coming!
wonderful podcast full of clarity and knowledge loved every second of it. looking forward to see more such podcast on defence with shiv aroor .
Brilliant! Appreciate it. Looking forward to the next ones
Thank you for such a good content.
Great discussion, but couple of very important points were not discussed,
1. Why was the IAF Mi-17 helicopter took off when there was high alert ? What the reason to fly when the dog fight was happening right over its head.
2. On 27-Feb morning, approximately 24 PAF fighter aircrafts were airborne, came close to LOC and fired missiles at us. India knew that it was going to happen and was on extreme high alert. In spite of that we hardly had any kill. Did we missed a big opportunity here or we didn't had enough technological capability ?
The most likely case, was it was a rescue mission (for the SU32) that the Pak AF claimed it had shot down. There is no other resaon for the Helicopter to be on a rescue mission at that point in time
The PAF was clearly and by all means the superior force during that incident
Fascinating conversation. Wonderful insights
Ideas for future episodes:
Mirage 2000 in IAF service - the details of its induction plus why it was never produced here
Desi Nuclear triad
Foxbats in Indian service
Edit: Loved the episode.
Shiv, may I remind you Pakistani Army's "professional" treatment of Capt. Saurabh Kalia.
Great insights from Shiv on the balakot incident and next 2 days events. Another key point that I noted, which has been subsequently addressed by IAF, is that we (IAF) did not have any good BVRs (apart from R27 derivatives) when PAF came knocking on India’s doors.
Still don't. About time everyone started asking modi about the seriously underequipped Indian Armed Forces in general.
Sir, please check your facts. Astra is india's BVR, indigenously developed by DRDO, and integrated to su30 mkis, and will be integrated to mirage, mig 29, and Tejas.
We had the export R-77 and the Mica-RF. R-27 is not good today. Played a pivotal role in 1999, but it's a SARH missile. At least now slowly we're getting the Astra Mk2 and Meteors for the Rafale, until then Pakistan will have better Fox 3 capabilities with their AIM-120C. But yeah, HAL and them shitty government run organizations need to pick up their lethargic ass and start actually functioning. Lack of competition for defense contracts has made them very lazy.
@@AT-bo6ww If i recall correctly, Astra MK 1 (110 kms) have been fully integrated in all platforms apart from bison ( they are about to be phased off anyway), MK 2 ( 160 KMS) is in user trials with air force as of last update in 2023. MK 3 ( 350 kms) is in development. Apart from that we have meteor for the rafale platforms and addtionally i derby er ( around 100 km) have been integrated onto su 30 mki and tejas
This is the kind of information I wanted to know 360 great podcast
Great podcast, please keep them coming
Probably the first time I've heard an hour long podcast in one go! 'Captivating' keep it going guys! Let's talk about the future. And cyber war (and where India stands?)
Thank you for saying it as it is. Helps us to get a realistic picture. Keep rocking!!
Very good podcast . Congratulations .
Great analysis
Thanks
Hats off to Air Marshall Varthaman
He says that JF17 and not F16 were used by Pak Airforce, but IAF gave irrefutable proof of Pakistan's F16 shot down by MIG21...later admited by many ex-Pakistani defense personal
Which Pakistani defence personal admitted?
Amazing narration
Mirage was chosen because of spike Bomb configuration and not dozens but 6 bombs were released. Sukhois flew a decoy mission on the western sector. Few mirages were armed with air to air configuration for escort too.
Well explained.
Great podcast
Proud of our defence forces. Seriously bad ass guys
one thing i would like 2 add is do we have the actual videos of the balakot attack an you please do an interview on this subject thanks a lot jai hind jay bharaT🇮🇳
we need to learn lot from this exp.
Your content is fabulous....All defense lovers listens to shiv and you...podcast is really nice....your video deserves millions of likes and views....please prepare in Hindi language too .
Supports to vulnerable victims 🙏
thanks a lot for this podcast very interested to interview india today
cant wait for the URI and Galway valley podcast to come out
2 things the editor did not ask Shiv Aroor.
1. How did PAF attack in broad daylight and what were our ground forces managing the radar doing?
2. Why was the MI-17 chopper in the air for? Search and rescue of what?
3. There was news on SU-30 taken down for a few seconds on the news and then taken off air immediately. Was there any SU-30 shot down?
There was only ever one Mig 21 which was shot down. the apparent " su 30" pilot was actually the pakistani F 16 pilot which was shot down. once PAF realized their mistake the message was taken on air. the Air vice chief marshal (IAF) had given an interview about this as well.
@@subhadeep129 but how come no videos of the f16 ? Everyone has mobile phones today
@@kunalghogrre566 if you are expecting 4k videos of a covert dogfight or an aviation platform.shot.down in it then.i am.sorry but you.will be disappointed. That said, the IAF had released images from.IACCS ( Radar) which was tracking all aircraft involved within the dogfight . It shows one f16 signature completely disappearing ( as in signal lost not out of radar range) on the pok side the same time.the signal from mig 21 was lost
@@subhadeep129 I saw that too and I’m not doubting that case. Just wondering how Pakistan covered up the f16 wreckage so easily .. no pictures, videos nothing… it must be a great secret cleanup I must say.
@@kunalghogrre566 India doesn't have any concrete prove to show f16 was downed mean while Pakistan show mig 21 parts all.the missile were intact
Second Pakistan also release the footage of dropping boamb in indian territory 500M away from your Hq
Meanwhile India didn't show any prove of strike
After 2 months indian mediia reported sukoi pilot died in accident another
You shoot down your own jet
Moral of the story india was speechless so they have to come up with some kind of storng narrative
Second why there is no Interview of abinandone himself claiming I have shoot down f16 mean while Pakistan pilot's told all the story on live TV channels
30:00 goosebumps starts
Hi, I want to ask the following questions after listening to the episode.
Question 1: Were IAF's Air tankers (Il-78MKIs, based in Agra) also airborne for air-refuelling or Mirages carried drop tanks for the mission?
Question 2: During the air skirmish after Balakot, it is fair to say that PAF had complete air superiority because the F-16s fired AMRAAM missiles against Su-30s and Mig-21s which carried R-77 BVRs. Air Marshal (then Air Vice Marshal) RGK Kapoor confirmed the use of AMRAAMs.
Question 3: Several media reports suggest that Wing Cdr (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Vardhaman was told to "turn cold" by the IAF, but he missed the orders as his radio was jammed by the F-16s Electronic Warfare Suit (EWS).
Question 4: Is it fair to say that IAFs AWACs (Netra and Il-76-based Falcon) failed to pick up the PAF's strike package? I am asking this because with a 300-400 km range Falcon Awacs should have picked up the strike package early and the IAF should have stopped it before reaching this close to the LoC. Do you think that it showed poor AWACS training of the IAF?
Question no 5: When we say that a JF-17 was shot down, do we have any credible input? I am asking this because when Wing Cdr (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded Vir Chakra by then President Ram Nath Kovind, it was clearly mentioned that he shot down the F-16 fighting falcon of the PAF.
Thank You.
1. Yes mirages were refuled by tankers.
2. The engagement lasted only minutes, PAF planned it very well. And it was 24-28 PAF jets against 4-6 IAF jets. Their priority was to engage su30 and keep them defensive, done by firing AMRAAMs one after the other, and stay away from the Mirage 2000, which were patrolling way too north to engage in time anyway.
3. Yes he was told to turn cold. PAF had better EW capabilities in that scenario, Indian forces having inferior equipment is a decades old story and nothing new, due to them having access to US tech. That's why Indians train hardest on tactics and make best use of what's available. India is the only country to get so much success against western equipment using Soviet equipment for a long time.
4. Pakistan picked up a very narrow window of rotation of AWACS, you always plan attacks with minimal risk, India did the same with balakot strike and were able to cross into the border. And 300-400 km for fighter jets is not that big, strike packages move in a way that it seems like a combat practice to enemy country till the very last moment. Both countries can pick up jets in combat patrol on the other side, all the time.
5. IAF for a long time has been training to counter f16s using a combination of su30 and mig21, where mig21 flies with its radar off guided by su30 and gets very close to enemy jet and take the kill with r73, it was documented a long time ago in cope India exercises, and tactics have evolved a lot since. We know for a fact that one helicopter and 2 jets went down that day, there are various videos of two different jets coming down in close proximity to LOC, one was mig21, other is unknown to this day.
As for Pakistani claim of su30 kill, su30s were not even there, f16s were firing at them at a distance more than 60-80km to deny them from getting involved.
And we know mig21 ended up chasing PAF fighters because he was sent to intercept, and couldn't hear the call to get cold. R73 is one of the best IR missiles in the world, and it's a cakewalk for a chasing jet with r73 to get a kill, as retreating jets would be on full afterburner. It was a lucky hit for sure, but yes he got a kill on f16, and got hit not long after. And both jets fell in POK as seen in the videos.
As for the narrative, Indians were naive, US knew and authorised the use of f16, and CIA was involved in the coverup of f16 shot down, starting from changing DGISPR tweets to making a memorial with plastic su30 tail, to making tv shows and documentaries with a 'gora' saying f16 was not shot down, to publishing an article in a private magazine in US that unknown sources say PAF f16s were counted so that everyone can use that reference. So much effort to describe something as insignificant as a mig21 shot down? They played smart.
Under what scenario does a Air Force which has complete air superiority , miss its targets , gets bullied by Soviet era fighters and just decides to turn back without striking anything? Lol.
Even if the mig 21 shooting down f16 story is not true, it is a fact that a dogfight happened , how come more IAF fighters werent shot down if PAF had complete air superiority? And why did the PAF just suddenly decide to turn back?
Did PAF send all those fighters just to do mujra over indian skies?
@@nipun9504well explained and thanks for clarifying here cause I had put up similar questions in the chat. Need one clarity..
If we say that a Paf jet was downed and fell into POK then how come it was easy for pak to hide the wreckage? I’m sure village people might have gone near it. Everyone has mobiles today? So how come it’s not captured on anyone’s mobile ?
@@nipun9504bro u have superb knowledge …aap iaf Mai ho?
@@nipun9504if you think all the theory is baseless cia and Pakistan dia a cover up
Pakistan showed the mig 21 missile all were intact with jet none of them fired
Second Pakistan also show the footage of dropping boamb in indian territory 500m away from HQ Meanwhile indian showed nothing not a video of strike not a confession of abinamdone nothing india just came up with conspiracy theory just to defend dignity of the country
Didn't the friendly fire incident happen because they were told to switch off IFF and go on a SAR mission for Abhinandan?
Galwan..is it done? If not , eagerly waiting.
Does the Indian military establishment have learned since abhinandan's capture what to do and how to reply back to pakistan when they try to do something similar next time.
Also, according to my understanding F16s are the best aircraft in a dog fight and why is india not purchasing F22 raptor and F35 aircrafts from united states ? to counter better to their f16s ?
A episode one How Ceasefire violations is being used tactically by India as a last warnings and by pakistan for infiltration.
Guys let us know when you are doing podcast on Galwan
Totally agree and as a Pakistani I would never poke fun at the martyrdom of any soldier even if he's from India. Having said that Pakistan military is not a bunch of people its the soul of the Nation and we may have our differences but when needed we are with Pakistan Military till the very end. And please we are as professional as any military.
Dont forget what happend to your soul in 1971. we would make sure we dont lose the battle on the negotiation table this time.
Why should Shiv Aroor claim he thinks JF-17 was shot down. IAF has clearly stated it was a F-16, evidencing with radar cross section & missiles fired. This is unnecessarily making a buck for yourself by creating a counter claim. We have Kejriwal & ilk for doing that.
No, it was F-16 D which was shot down, because two pilots were admitted in the hospital from Pakistan and F16 D is a twin seated. JF17 is single seated.
Can’t take a word of yours without a pinch of salt . Especially about the JF 17 . It was a damn F16 if that’s what the IAF said .
Their whole country was shivering 🥶😂 untill the time abhinandan came back on Indian land.
Did you say that they crossed the international border first? Or did they attack from PoK?
Rebutting is needed for journalists like you who are challenging IAF claim.
it would be gd, if anchor keeps his questions short & crisp.....
IAF, (Indian Pilots) cool dudes, smoking ciggis, chugging bear, playing volleyball, waiting for order, then running and jumping into cockpit , fly around, meanwhile Pakistan , with few 10-20 pilots and 1960s engines, chase away our cool ciggi smoking, beer chugging IAF pilots. Now we wait for a Bollywood movie to be made to herofy them, wow so cool , so fab.
You can't just "modify" an AMRAAM to be fired from a Chinese plane. You have to interface the missile with the radar for which you have to have access and know-how which the Americans will never allow.
Do not want the content to become political but curious to ask this to journalists : several times "social media" and other pressures were mentioned
What's your opinion of the quality of internal skepticism
Second : Was the surgical strikes the death knell for Pakistan 's nuclear threat? Not mentioned here at all
The Israeli airborne EW aircraft of india had F16 electronic signature on the border and then the circle disappeared. It was shown by the airforce. You are wrong!
The problem of explanation is to indian politicians who are still questioning attacks.
Disagree on one part, we and the military does care about neutralised terrorists, if they were alive they would have tried to eventually get into and attack India, which is a threat nullified. Second the lost investment of terrorists organisations, both in terms of time/HR and money.
Why does Shiv still think that it was not an F16. Can he back it up with his thinking or other facts ? I am sure he doesn't think, i hope he is not that arrogant, to think he knows better than the IAF
Pakistan did a shosha with their pilot. It was on TV🤣. The typical stuff from ISPR.
Poor planning hence we lost one aircraft & one helicopter. Now PAF has a trophy of IAF Mig with the uniform of a IAF wing commander ! There is no such evidence for the claim that IAF shot down one F16!
Shiv Aroor how dare you say that IAF lied that it did hit F16 you doubt the ethos of the esteemed organisation?? 😡😡😡
Bhai kuch bhi, I really feel they literally missed the targets, i also doubt that they are one of the best airforce in the world bhai kuch bhi mtlb , top 10 me bhi nhi honge
The IAF shamed itself in the balakot and post balakot incidences in the following way
1. IAF pilots showed less skills in using the SPICE weaponry by missing the targets (and hitting some trees)
2. Abhinandans shooting down of the 'Imaginary F16'. The IAF shamed itself by playing into modi' election politics
3. Declaring the death of the 16 killed in the Friendly fire incidence of its own helicopter, and keeping the news quiet till the elections were over
I can understand your pain. Nice way to solace the loss & lick the wounds. Next time be alert. You guys were caught napping twice.
You are only talking about Pakistan's narrative. But real problem for airforce was the narrative and suspicion of our own politicians who were firing verbal salvos.
Bhai guest ko to bolne de.😮
Shiv Aroor is Abhijit Iyer Pro lite. Jokers 😂
I’m surprised how even after getting an aircraft shot down, a pilot captured by the enemy, committing fratricide, getting virtually rebutted by possibly every international player (See Christine Fair’s statements she made while being in India in a show arranged and moderated by the IAF) on the IAF’s absolutely rubbish claims on downing a PAF F-16, you guys can still try and compare the PAF with the IAF.
Yes India is miles ahead of Pakistan in other areas (possibly all) but the PAF is a solid force that has always bloodied IAF’s nose
plz make podcast in hindi
Say whatever, there are still 30-40 terrorists coming in and out in the South of Pir Panjal ranges, specifically targeting the Mughal road. They still loom at large, two heads are missing, chest thumping can wait, how about growing some actual spine and doing something about it? Balakot was a PR disaster, even if you did shoot that f-16, the enemy covered it up, nothing came out barring the botched up PC by Ghafoor. Some people are of the opinion that owing to parallax error, the missiles overshot on the preceding night. Noclarity wrt that. No clarity wrt how are we going to deal with the Poonch-Rajuri menace, how those casualties could have been avoided by using Mahindra ALSVs or Kalyani M4s, which were later used in the procession of the soldier's final journeys. Tin pot Gypsies and Tarpaulin covered Ashok Leyland trucks just won't cut it.
humse bahadur to iran nikala... aisa thoka ki pak bhi bola.... kya thoka हे.. 🤣 🤣
Kindly avoid Hindi in between. I don't know Hindi and couldn't follow the flow
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
ab JF-17 hogya , it was confirmed by US that it was F-16 , all the wrong info he is giving , LOL ye bhai Pakistan ke liye kam to nhi krta kya.
When did US confirm it ? Any news article regarding it?
Do you have photos of the F-16 wreckage, or any videos to prove your point? If not, then your claims are as false as his. And no, US never confirmed anything about the 'so-called' F-16. They only said, they'll investigate what had happened.
Okay, we know it, But how many elections should people vote for this "balakot strike". That was enough for 2019... WHy not find some new events for 2024?. What about a "surgical strike" against "China".
For a change the same "Pakistan" or some small island in the sea, (not even the size of some small district ). cannot be a permanent deposit , giving interest forever.
What about say a declaration like, we will not take "Income Tax" for people with income below 10 lakhs?. or maybe 20 litres of petrol free for every ration card?. Those sound good for now. Now there is no more scope for any more milking of "Ayodhya", That is done. No more an issue.
Ha lawde air fir jab war Hoga china ke Sath toh Teri ma jayegi ladne ?
This podcast is no more than a bollywood movie where one sunny deol kills the whole pakistani army Lolzz.. grow up brothers ..
Pak press will b so happy on some of his points.. like"they intentionally miss indian militry installations".. he should apply there asap. Also Mr shiv, it was definitely an F16. how can u become an agenda peddler from pak side?? The narrative war is always made difficult by journalists like you who only add some salt and sugar to narration to sound "different".
Listen to ANI podcast... better than this
Another bull story to justify abhinandhans actions my god!
Both were shot down one died another caught alive biggest ambarrasment ever but her we are discussing fake story again shame!
Saar. Main uneducated men fram endia. You people are uppar class ah. Hinthi nahi hai kya Saar, ? UP se hoon SAAAR. I no understand you saaar.
Hindi is a local language of the backward areas of India. High time the cowbelt upgraded to the lingua franca of the world and move towards development
dude when u say public/ppl were stupid about attack and u say without the knowledge of war, how much exp have u on war? dont tell me paint ball matters! haha
also musharaf was never a PM of pakistan, kitna chu he be tu?
So Shiv claims that it is FACT not speculation that Abhinandan shotdown an PAF aircraft, interestingly watch his body language throughout the show, he is constantly scratching his face when he makes his outlandish claims (without an shred of evidence) clearly indicating he doesn't actually believe anything of the claims he is making yet expect the audience to take him seriously, very unprofessional journalist.
Katve ja Jake aata kharid pehle
your name sufficient is to say all about mental development.. keep crying and applying burnol..
Here comes Pakistani Sherlock
@MrAyansaha Next time you tell a fib please notice the itch that you will almost certainly develop on your face.Regards dear Watson
@@rizwanhussain645 hahaha this theory doesn't work in real life Sherlock
You continue to mock and under estimate PAF and Pakistan's resolve. No wonder you shot down your own helicopter and lost your pilot to PAF. Continue berating your enemy and next skermish youll make even bigger mistakes. Peace ✌️
Guys, please do an episode of fighert jet engines and why our own Kaveri engine is taking so much time and what its future
Iaf is very professional shot down her own helicopter in panic 😂😂😂😂and abhinondon served by fantastic tea 🤣🤣☕☕
Pak 🇵🇰 is Asian superpower mashallah 💪
Bakwas
I’m surprised how even after getting an aircraft shot down, a pilot captured by the enemy, committing fratricide, getting virtually rebutted by possibly every international player (See Christine Fair’s statements she made while being in India in a show arranged and moderated by the IAF) on the IAF’s absolutely rubbish claims on downing a PAF F-16, you guys can still try and compare the PAF with the IAF.
Yes India is miles ahead of Pakistan in other areas (possibly all) but the PAF is a solid force that has always bloodied IAF’s nose
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I’m surprised how even after getting an aircraft shot down, a pilot captured by the enemy, committing fratricide, getting virtually rebutted by possibly every international player (See Christine Fair’s statements she made while being in India in a show arranged and moderated by the IAF) on the IAF’s absolutely rubbish claims on downing a PAF F-16, you guys can still try and compare the PAF with the IAF.
Yes India is miles ahead of Pakistan in other areas (possibly all) but the PAF is a solid force that has always bloodied IAF’s nose
I’m surprised how even after getting an aircraft shot down, a pilot captured by the enemy, committing fratricide, getting virtually rebutted by possibly every international player (See Christine Fair’s statements she made while being in India in a show arranged and moderated by the IAF) on the IAF’s absolutely rubbish claims on downing a PAF F-16, you guys can still try and compare the PAF with the IAF.
Yes India is miles ahead of Pakistan in other areas (possibly all) but the PAF is a solid force that has always bloodied IAF’s nose
😂😂😂 see the DG ISPR's statement its changed around Thrice that. Day!! As far as PAF giving a bloddy nose just see ur map from 1947 until noe i beleive there are some changes.
Wow that was your best response?