(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: Operation Balakot: New Dimensions

Topic: Operation Balakot: New Dimensions

Guest:

Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, (Former Secretary, MEA)
Arvind Gupta, (Director, Vivekananda International Foundation)
Maj. Gen. (Retd., Ravi Arora, Chief Editor, Indian Military Review)
Air Vice Marshal (Retd., Sunil Nanodkar, Defence Expert)

Topic Description:

The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that an Indian pilot is missing in action after a Mig-21 Bison fighter plane was lost while engaging with Pakistani jets after they violated Indian airspace. Pakistan military has, however, claimed to have captured two Indian pilots, saying one of them was in hospital. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that Pakistani planes targeted military establishments in Jammu and Kashmir, but were forced to retreat by alert Indian forces. He added - Pakistan claims an Indian pilot is in their custody, but we are ascertaining the facts. India had earlier on Wednesday shot down a Pakistani F-16 jet that violated the Indian air space in retaliatory fire 3km within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector. Pakistan had claimed to have entered the Indian airspace and dropped bombs. Media reports said there was no information of any casualty. A parachute was reportedly seen when the Pakistani jet went down. In wake of a tense situation after the Indian air strikes at the JeM facility that killed several terrorists, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been on high alert.