New Delhi: In a significant escalation of hostilities, an F-16 fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force was shot down on Friday evening by an Indian surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, according to top defence sources. The aircraft, which took off from the heavily fortified Sargodha air base in Pakistan’s Punjab province, was downed near the same facility.
The F-16, a mainstay of the Pakistani Air Force alongside Chinese and French-origin jets, was reportedly engaged in operations linked to Pakistan’s attempted drone and missile strikes targeting Jammu. The aircraft’s downing marks a rare and high-profile air engagement in the region, reminiscent of the 2019 aerial conflict following India’s Balakot air strikes, during which a Pakistani F-16 was also claimed to be shot down by Indian forces.
The Sargodha base, used by Pakistan in previous conflicts with India in 1965 and 1971, is one of its most strategically important and heavily defended military installations. India’s successful targeting of an aircraft near this facility signals a marked increase in the scope and depth of military operations on both sides.
Cross-Border Hostilities Escalate
The missile strike follows Pakistan’s failed attempts to hit Indian military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur using drones and missiles. Pakistan also resorted to heavy shelling in RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, and Hiranagar areas of Jammu, with similar activity reported near Pathankot in Punjab—a critical entry point to the Jammu region.
In response, India activated its advanced air defence network, including the S-400 missile system, to intercept and neutralize multiple aerial threats. According to the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), Pakistan targeted military facilities across a wide swath of India, from Srinagar and Jammu to Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Bhuj. However, no damage or casualties were reported, thanks to the swift response of Indian defence units.
Civilian Precautions and Countermeasures
Amid the rising threat, blackout orders were issued in border regions across Rajasthan, Punjab, and Chandigarh. Sirens sounded in multiple cities, and residents were urged to stay indoors. Civil administrations in cities like Mohali also ordered businesses to shut early as a precautionary measure.
India further retaliated by targeting and neutralizing a Pakistani air defence radar site near Lahore using HARPY drones. Sources indicate that the Indian Air Force launched kinetic strikes alongside non-kinetic electronic warfare measures to disable Pakistan’s air defence network.
Strategic Implications
The incident underscores the deteriorating security situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and marks the first time since 1971 that combat operations have extended across such a broad geographic area. Indian officials maintain that their strikes are a direct response to provocations, including the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, and stress that the objective remains deterrence—not escalation.
India has reiterated its commitment to national security while calling for restraint and de-escalation, provided Pakistan ceases its aggressive actions.
