As Indian Air Force(IAF) Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman was honoured with the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 in February 2019 after India's Balakot strikes, Pakistan once again claimed that it was "baseless".

Pakistan's foreign office released a statement saying it "categorically rejects the entirely baseless Indian claims that a Pakistani F-16 aircraft was shot down by an Indian pilot".

Pakistan's foreign office went on to add that India was "propagating a lie". "Granting military honours for imaginary feats of gallantry is contrary to every norm of military conduct," it said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iafs-abhinandan-varthaman-who-shot-down-pak-f-16-honoured-with-vir-chakra-431185">Also Read:&nbsp;IAF's Abhinandan Varthaman who shot down Pak F-16 honoured with Vir Chakra</a>

"By giving such award, also as an afterthought, India has only made a mockery of itself," Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement.

"India’s insistence on propagating a lie that has been thoroughly exposed is ludicrous and nonsensical," the statement claimed.

Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG-21 Bison was involved in a dogfight with a Pakistani F-16, a day after Indian jets blew up Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM)&nbsp;terror camps at Balakot on&nbsp;February 26, 2019. Pakistan had sent its fighter jets towards India in retaliation which was intercepted by IAF planes.

Varthaman shot down the US-built F-16 and his MiG-21 was shot down as he ejected and landed in POK.&nbsp;

Pakistan's foreign office while describing the incident said: "Indian Air Force was completely outplayed on the day. It is obvious that India's farcical story has no credibility whatsoever before the international community."

During the ceremony at the Rashtrapathi Bhawan,&nbsp;Varthaman was applauded for being "brave and dignified" while in captivity. The Indian Air Force ace had spent three&nbsp;days in Pakistan and was released later as he crossed the Wagah border into India.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As Indian Air Force(IAF) Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman was honoured with the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 in February 2019 after India's Balakot strikes, Pakistan once again claimed that it was "baseless".

As Indian Air Force(IAF) Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman was honoured with the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 in February 2019 after India's Balakot strikes, Pakistan once again claimed that it was "baseless". Pakistan's foreign office released a statement saying it "categorically rejects the entirely baseless Indian claims that a Pakistani F-16 aircraft was shot down by an Indian pilot". Pakistan's foreign office went on to add that India was "propagating a lie". "Granting military honours for imaginary feats of gallantry is contrary to every norm of military conduct," it said. Also Read: IAF's Abhinandan Varthaman who shot down Pak F-16 honoured with Vir Chakra "By giving such award, also as an afterthought, India has only made a mockery of itself," Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement. "India’s insistence on propagating a lie that has been thoroughly exposed is ludicrous and nonsensical," the statement claimed. Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG-21 Bison was involved in a dogfight with a Pakistani F-16, a day after Indian jets blew up Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror camps at Balakot on February 26, 2019. Pakistan had sent its fighter jets towards India in retaliation which was intercepted by IAF planes. Varthaman shot down the US-built F-16 and his MiG-21 was shot down as he ejected and landed in POK. Pakistan's foreign office while describing the incident said: "Indian Air Force was completely outplayed on the day. It is obvious that India's farcical story has no credibility whatsoever before the international community." During the ceremony at the Rashtrapathi Bhawan, Varthaman was applauded for being "brave and dignified" while in captivity. The Indian Air Force ace had spent three days in Pakistan and was released later as he crossed the Wagah border into India. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Ludicrous and nonsensical': Vir Chakra for IAF's Abhinandan Varthaman riles Pakistan

A parliamentary panel Friday asked the government to go all out to explain to the international community the reasons behind India's decision to carry out an air strike on<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wing-commander-abhinandan-varthaman-returns-to-india-from-pakistan-200585"> Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror </a>camp inside Pakistan.

The suggestion came when f<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/iaf-pilot-wing-commander-abhinandan-varthaman-crosses-wagah-border-reaches-india-200569">oreign secretary Vijay Gokhale</a> briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on external affairs about the latest developments that have taken place between India and Pakistan after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack by the JeM in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

The panel told the foreign secretary that the government should highlight the impact of the air strike and the information about the extent of damage, including casualties, suffered by the JeM.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

This will ensure that no international agency questions the impact of the strike, a member of the panel said.&nbsp;

Gokhale, who was assisted by officials of the Ministry of external affairs (MEA), informed the panel's members about the air strike on the JeM terror camp in Pakistan and also about the retaliation by the western neighbour, a source said.

A committee member, who was present in the meeting, said foreign ministry officials had briefed the panel earlier in October when Imran Khan was elected prime minister of Pakistan.

On Friday, the briefing included the MEA's assessment of the Pakistan prime minister's tenure so far, the member said.

The foreign secretary also told the panel that an attempt by the Pakistan Air Force on to target military installations in India was unsuccessful as it was thwarted by the Indian Air Force, which lost a jet in the fight back.

The members told the foreign secretary that the government should vigorously publicise across the world the reasons behind New Delhi's move to target the terror camp, a member later said.

Another member said the foreign secretary detailed the diplomatic measures that the ministry took right from after the Pulwama attack to the ensuing air strike, and efforts thereon to seek out the international community to brief them about the impasse, in an effort to isolate Pakistan globally.

Foreign Secretary Gokhale assured the committee that diplomatic overtures to the international community were still underway.

He also informed the members on how India got the support of the members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the issue.&nbsp;

In a major diplomatic achievement, India on Friday for the first time addressed the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is a guest of honour.

Pakistan has boycotted the plenary session of the OIC meet to protest India's participation there.&nbsp;

One of the parliamentary panel's members also said while a slew of questions were asked to the foreign secretary about the anti-terror strikes against Pakistan, Gokhale was "cautious" about answering them, taking the stand that he could not reveal much because of the "sensitive nature" of the information and "national security".&nbsp;

The panel raised some queries about the assessment of damage caused by the air strike, but Gokhale said he was not authorised to divulge details.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 
Congress president Rahul Gandhi is a member of the committee but was not present in the meeting Friday.

The panel members also lauded the armed forces, including the IAF, and described the air strike as a "glorious and heroic" job which needs to be widely publicised.

The purpose of the meeting, described as good and constructive, was part of "parliamentary accountability" and the MEA gave a briefing in this regard, a member said.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The meeting was attended by chairperson Shashi Tharoor, Arka Keshari Deo, Prof Richard Hay, Jagdambika Pal, Magannti Venakateshwara Rao, Mohammad Salim, P Bhattacharya, Sambhaji Chhatrapati, Swapan Dasgupta, Chunibhai Kanjibhai Gohel and Kumar Ketkar.

Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. It came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir.

A parliamentary panel Friday asked the government to go all out to explain to the international community the reasons behind India's decision to carry out an air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp inside Pakistan.

A parliamentary panel Friday asked the government to go all out to explain to the international community the reasons behind India's decision to carry out an air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp inside Pakistan. The suggestion came when foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on external affairs about the latest developments that have taken place between India and Pakistan after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack by the JeM in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The panel told the foreign secretary that the government should highlight the impact of the air strike and the information about the extent of damage, including casualties, suffered by the JeM. This will ensure that no international agency questions the impact of the strike, a member of the panel said. Gokhale, who was assisted by officials of the Ministry of external affairs (MEA), informed the panel's members about the air strike on the JeM terror camp in Pakistan and also about the retaliation by the western neighbour, a source said. A committee member, who was present in the meeting, said foreign ministry officials had briefed the panel earlier in October when Imran Khan was elected prime minister of Pakistan. On Friday, the briefing included the MEA's assessment of the Pakistan prime minister's tenure so far, the member said. The foreign secretary also told the panel that an attempt by the Pakistan Air Force on to target military installations in India was unsuccessful as it was thwarted by the Indian Air Force, which lost a jet in the fight back. The members told the foreign secretary that the government should vigorously publicise across the world the reasons behind New Delhi's move to target the terror camp, a member later said. Another member said the foreign secretary detailed the diplomatic measures that the ministry took right from after the Pulwama attack to the ensuing air strike, and efforts thereon to seek out the international community to brief them about the impasse, in an effort to isolate Pakistan globally. Foreign Secretary Gokhale assured the committee that diplomatic overtures to the international community were still underway. He also informed the members on how India got the support of the members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the issue. In a major diplomatic achievement, India on Friday for the first time addressed the OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is a guest of honour. Pakistan has boycotted the plenary session of the OIC meet to protest India's participation there. One of the parliamentary panel's members also said while a slew of questions were asked to the foreign secretary about the anti-terror strikes against Pakistan, Gokhale was "cautious" about answering them, taking the stand that he could not reveal much because of the "sensitive nature" of the information and "national security". The panel raised some queries about the assessment of damage caused by the air strike, but Gokhale said he was not authorised to divulge details. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is a member of the committee but was not present in the meeting Friday. The panel members also lauded the armed forces, including the IAF, and described the air strike as a "glorious and heroic" job which needs to be widely publicised. The purpose of the meeting, described as good and constructive, was part of "parliamentary accountability" and the MEA gave a briefing in this regard, a member said. The meeting was attended by chairperson Shashi Tharoor, Arka Keshari Deo, Prof Richard Hay, Jagdambika Pal, Magannti Venakateshwara Rao, Mohammad Salim, P Bhattacharya, Sambhaji Chhatrapati, Swapan Dasgupta, Chunibhai Kanjibhai Gohel and Kumar Ketkar. Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. It came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir.

Go all out to explain to world reasons behind air strike: Parliamentary panel to govt

jem-terror-camps

Jem Terror Camps, News on Jem Terror Camps, stories on Jem Terror Camps, articles on Jem Terror Camps, Jem Terror Camps stories at Wion, Jem Terror Camps news, Jem Terror Camps latest news

jem terror-camps

'Ludicrous and nonsensical': Vir Chakra for IAF's Abhinandan Varthaman riles Pakistan

Go all out to explain to world reasons behind air strike: Parliamentary panel to govt