2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes
2019 Jammu and Kashmir airstrikes (short version)
In February 2019, tensions between India and Pakistan surged after a deadly attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama on 14 February. On 26 February, India conducted airstrikes on what it said were terrorist camps in Balakot, Pakistan.
The following day, 27 February, Pakistan launched airstrikes into Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (the Line of Control). It was the first time since 1971 that both countries bombed targets across the LoC. Pakistan said it struck non-military targets to avoid casualties, while India said its forces were responding to a terrorist threat at military locations.
A dogfight followed with conflicting claims. India said one Indian MiG-21 was shot down and its pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistan. Pakistan initially claimed it shot down two Indian jets and captured a pilot, later revising its statement. Indian officials acknowledged one MiG-21 was downed and Abhinandan was in Pakistani custody; he was released and returned to India a few days later.
Tragically, a friendly-fire incident occurred when an Indian Mi-17 helicopter was shot down, killing six IAF personnel and one civilian. An investigation later pointed to misidentification by Indian air defenses, and in October 2019 the IAF said the helicopter had been shot down by an Indian SPYDER surface-to-air missile.
Both sides claimed different losses, and international observers questioned some claims, including those about downed Pakistani F-16s. Pakistan denied using F-16s, while India asserted one F-16 was shot down. U.S. and other sources reported no clear, verifiable losses of F-16s.
The Balakot airstrike itself was followed by more exchanges along the LoC and heightened military activity. In April 2019, Indian forces defused some unexploded ordnance from the strikes in Mendhar, Rajouri. India and Pakistan continued to trade accusations, with the incident fueling political and military tensions for months.
On 1 March 2019, Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was returned to India, helping to de-escalate the immediate crisis. The episode left a lasting impact on India-Pakistan relations and sparked ongoing debate about casualty figures and military claims from both sides.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:51 (CET).