On 26th February 2019, the Indian Air Force dropped payload in Pakistan’s Balakot jungle, in response to a false flag attack on Indian forces in Indian occupied Kashmir. Dropped Indian payload damaged some Pakistani trees and raised many questions on Pakistan’s air defence capabilities.
The very next day on 27th February 2019, the Pakistan Air force retaliated and targeted the Northern Command of Indian Army. The surprise attack of Pakistan Air Force shocked the Indian military and they had dispatched Indian fighter jets to counter Pakistan Air Force. Among the dispatched Indian fighter jets, an Indian MiG-21 fighter jet was flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Abhinandan came to fight Pakistan Air Force, but he was shot down by the very same Air Force he came to challenge. Upon his successful ejection, he landed in Pakistan administrated Kashmir, where he was publicly beaten by Kashmiri nationals, which was a result of Indian Army aggression against the Kashmiri people.
Abhinandan was rescued by Pakistan Army and he was treated well as per the military ethics of the Pakistan Army. But what was even more fascinating, that the Pakistani fighter jet JF-17 Thunder had also participated in this operation of Pakistan Air Force known as Swift Retort.
Operation Swift Retort was a defeat for India, as Indian Air Force lost one Indian MG-21, one Su-30MKI and one Indian Air Force helicopter Mi-17. The huge loss India Air Force suffered was due to the strategy designed by Pakistan Air Force and the fighter jets used by the Pakistan Air force that included JF-17 Thunder.
This victory of the Pakistan Air Force made a great impression of JF-17 Thunder and brought more attraction to it. This is the prime reason Nigeria purchased JF-17 Thunder, Argentina is also interested in JF-17 and Iraq has also finally closed a deal with Pakistan Air Force to purchase JF-17 fighter jets.