India’s Balakot Story A facade - BS Dhanoa reiterates debunked Indian Claims

[SIPRA]

Why were IAF mirage and MKI not able to fire a single shot at the F16s? This is the first question that the journalist should have started with!

That was not the objective of the interview.

 

[Taimoor Khan]

The type of weapons they have used is first-generation standoff ammunition, whereas we used a third-generation standoff weapon

True, the SOWs that we used during operation swift retort specially the H4 were developed by Pakistan back in early 2000s when India didn't even have the clue what its all about. Those SOWs took clear video of target acquisition and then manoeuvring to impact point nearby of Indian military installation. The video was showed to the world.

Ask BS Dhanoa, where is the video of his so called "third generation" Israeli made (not home made) SOWs?????

From 6:50

 

[HRK]

I think Dhanoa is feeling fuzy about the details of the day, he talks about not to reveal the technology & the capability IAF possess to tap into secure coms of PAF, yet completely ignores the fact that PAF on Feb27 had tapped into their coms - a capability demonstrated clearly......

This interview is to build a completely new narrative after a thorough review of IAF performance but again make certain blunders for International readers and observers for example

- Here in this interview Dhona said IAF manage to intercept secure communication of PAF BUT [it's really an interesting point] never bothered to equip their MKI and MiG-21 fleet with secure communication; in reality they issue a contract for secure communication to Israel after 27th Feb retaliation by PAF, now does it look logical that a highly advance Air force which could manage to 'intercept secure communication of F-16' [as India claim F-16 was used to bomb their territory] but remain ignorant to equip their mainstay fighter fleet with same technology

- Here Dhona mention timing of bombing of Balakot by IAF as 3:30 AM [so precise and accurate time] Indian Standard Time but Modi on record mention IST 2:55 AM as there was gap of Satellite observation available during this mention time and he in that interview further mention he received all OK report at IST 3:20 AM [link relevant part start at 27:30 sec], now who could say which one of them is wrong and on which grounds .... ???

- Another blunders is the mention of 3 buildings which were targeted and one was left intentionally but the issue is every monkey in India shared picture of only ONE BUILDING with photoshop/ editing to show the opening at tin roof.

The first confirmation came through synthetic aperture camera, showing penetration in the roof of Balakot buildings. We hit three buildings and left one deliberately.

Now here the issue is not even IAF OR Indian Government till todate officially shared these pics which they acquired by using satellite based synthetic aperture camera, now any logical person should ask what sensitive capabilities of IAF would those pics leak and why those pics are still not released .... ???

So it's nothing but a futile attempt to rewrite the "Event of Recent Past" so that this interview could be used as reference in any Future

 

[SIPRA]

Paa Jee: What is this picture about? Never seen it before.

 

[HRK]

So what is it? Rift between Indian Deepstate and ModiRegime?

nope just an attempt to share the shame of their actions by churning out more and more lies .....

 

[StormBreaker]

Pakistan’s version on F-16 a facade, says former IAF chief BS Dhanoa

Close to one year after the Balakot air strike, Dhanoa talks about the details of the operation, what it took to plan and execute, what it means for India’s future military equation with Pakistan, and the capabilities of the Rafale jets.
Updated: Feb 11, 2020 15:11 IST
By Shishir Gupta, Hindustan Times New Delhi


Former Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal (retd) BS Dhanoa, spoke to Hindustan Times close to one year after the Balakot air strike about the details of the operation, what it took to plan and execute, what it means for India’s future military equation with Pakistan, and the capabilities of the Rafale jets. Edited excerpts:

Pakistan has tried to project the Balakot operation as a military and diplomatic victory — the Imran Khan government says it brought down an Indian Air Force jet and captured the pilot. It says it brought focus on Kashmir and projected India as a global threat. What do you say about these claims?

Military victory is measured on the scale of whether you have achieved the stated political objective or not. Our objective in Balakot was to hit the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist group as a retaliation for February 14 Pulwama suicide attack on a CRPF convoy. It so happened that the JeM camp was inside Pakistan in Manshera and not in Occupied Kashmir. We hit the camp at Jaba top in Balakot.

The fact that we hit the camp is very clear, as is evident from the open-source satellite imagery. Then there is circumstantial evidence as they (Pakistan) isolated the place. If it was just a seminary, and not a military establishment, there was no need to isolate the place. They did not allow anyone to go near the site for 40 days, and then took a guided tour to a mosque in the facility, which Indian bombs had deliberately avoided. The fact is that the terror camp was hit with a lot of casualties, which the Pakistanis were hiding. So the military victory statement is false.

Secondly, Pakistan’s military response the day after Balakot was against Indian military targets, though we had hit a non-military target at Markaz Syed Ahmad Shaheed in Balakot. The Pakistanis missed their military targets south of Pir Panjal because of the calibre of weapons used. When you do signalling, either you drop a very small weapon so that nobody dies unintentionally, or you drop it outside the safety distance of the target.



Most of these bombs have fallen 500 metres to 1.5km of the targets. It is evident from this that these were not intended misses but poor targeting. Most probably, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) must have used commercial digital elevation models. The type of weapons they have used is first-generation standoff ammunition, whereas we used a third-generation standoff weapon. So that is how you judge a military victory.

A classic example is the World War I Jutland naval battle, in which the British lost more ships and sailors but prevented the Germans from achieving their military objective. So you don’t measure by bean counting. We lost a MiG-21, but Pakistan lost an F-16 that we cannot prove. Technically we have information beyond doubt that two aircraft fell in that area on February 27, 2019. One aircraft belongs to us, second aircraft we are saying is an F-16 on basis of evidence from our electronic sensors. Abhinandan Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 Bison that does not have non-cooperative target recognition capability which the Su-30 or other modern aircraft have got. So he on his own cannot confirm that he shot down an F-16. Our other sensors — AWACS and radars — have all confirmed that the aircraft that went down in that sector appears to be a Pakistan F-16 fighter.

Is the aircraft that went down the one IAF identified as Red Mike?

No, the one we identified we showed to the media too. The Pakistanis wanted us to show the full video. The fact is, if we show you the full video, do you want us to expose our technical capability, given there are gaps due to mountainous terrain, or our ability to intercept their secure communication — all this just to win brownie points in the media?

Let me give you an example, the same thing happened on September 7, 1965, the day IAF’s Mystere aircraft raided Sargodha airbase in hinterland Pakistan and Squadron Leader AB Devayya got a Mahavir Chakra many years later. In that raid, IAF lost a Mystere aircraft that fell on their side, and we did not claim the kill that time. But PAF lost a vastly superior Starfighter. Many years later, Pakistan acknowledged the fact.

Pakistan says that they are for global peace and India is a threat to it?

If they are for global peace, why are they sponsoring terrorism on our soil? They did not even keep their air force in the loop, or else they would have put terminal defences outside the Balakot camp. After all, their air force has an approximate idea of what kind of weapons we own. And if they know our standoff weapon capability, they would have put terminal defences at Balakot. Why was the site devoid of any defence? Why did the entire air defence of Pakistan react to the IAF’s feint towards Bhawalpur (headquarters of JeM). I don’t think PAF was even aware that Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was running a terrorist training camp at Balakot.

So was it purely a Pakistan Army-ISI operation, and the Air Force was kept out?

Otherwise they would have defended it with terminal weapons. PAF are capable of deploying terminal weapons — they would have deployed; I would have deployed. They did not deploy, as they were out of loop.

About the aircraft going down in that sector, PAF launched a combat search-and-rescue mission, which is always launched to pick up your own pilot as you know the location. It is not done to pick up a prisoner of war who will never be static, and for that you give this task to the ground troops. They have lost a combat aircraft and we have recordings of it.

Do you think it was a Jordanian F-16 A/B that went down on February 27?

The evidence from the electronic intelligence is that it was an F-16. The Pakistanis have tied themselves in knots over the whole issue. Where was the need for the DG ISPR to say that we have not used an F-16. After all, what was there to hide? It is because Pakistan were building a story, a facade. Why say one pilot was captured, and two more were in the area? It must be a two seater F-16.

Then they said that one was being located and other had reached military hospital. And then suddenly, in the night, the hospital guy vanishes! Our claim is based on our electronic signatures, not what Pakistan is saying. The kill is attributed to Abhinandan as there was nobody else in that sector.


What was Pakistan’s game plan the next day when they tried to retaliate? Was PAF intending to attack?

Yes. PAF had a clear-cut intent to attack, but we thwarted the move. We were prepared for retaliation. We expected them to attack. IAF along with the navy and the army were prepared for an all-out escalation. After Pulwama, for the first time, all three services told the political leadership that should it escalate, we were ready. That is why the Modi government gave the go-ahead. We did not even bat an eyelid. For Pakistan alone, we are always ready.

Our air defence responded well. We used a lot of tricks but I can’t tell you those. They launched stand-off weapons. Their plan was to hit some of our forward installations. Many of them are well with the range of their own artillery. But they wanted to prove a point. They had a package of 24-26 aircraft; they had the initiative, the time and the place. But we were prepared with two upgraded Mirage 2000s, two SU-30 MKIs and six Bisons got airborne from Srinagar. If we had signed the contract in time, it would have been six Rafales.

And six Rafales would have added a totally different dimension?
Totally. All the PAF aircraft, including F-16s would have been scurrying for cover against Rafales.

You talk a lot about the Rafale. Can you explain the capabilities of the Rafale fighter in such situations?

In beyond visual range combat, it is basically your situational awareness which wins you the day. Your ability to look first and shoot first. This is where Rafale comes first.

If you were to compare Rafale with F-16 or F-18 fighters…

We evaluated the two US-made fighters and rejected them. Only Rafale and Eurofighter met the operational requirements. The American aircraft are good, but those are the F-35 and F-22.

Was the only action south of Pir Panjal or at other places along the Indo-Pak border?

They had done other feints and decoys all along to ensure that we don’t push all our forces to the north. The Pakistanis did not come after February 27. Remember the message in Balakot was to the JeM terror group. Did they get the message? Answer is yes, as till the Indian general elections, there was not a single terrorist attack. They knew that all the three services were forwardly deployed.

This was the first time that the Indian Air Force attacked Pakistan. It was always the Indian Army that was preferred in the past. Did you really come out saying that IAF will go in first?

That meeting is classified, so I am not telling you. Not only me. Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis (Kargil), Air Chief Marshal Krishnaswamy (2001) and Air Chief Marshal Fali Major (2008) had also said that they were ready. IAF has always been ready.

When did you focus on Balakot?

When the target was given to me by the Indian intelligence agencies. We got exceptional, pinpointed, actionable intelligence, including who is staying in which building. Targets were chosen after that. We don’t hit kids only learning to recite the holy Quran.

How closely guarded was the information on Balakot attack?

Admiral Sunil Lanba, as chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, made it clear that should it escalate, all should be ready for an all-out war. Which service would go in first was decided on the basis of the chosen target. Balakot had to be the air force. If it was a kill-all destroy-all mission, we would have used supersonic low level Brahmos missile, to which Pakistan did not have any answer.

Was PM Modi in know of the operation from start to end?

Ask the National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval; it is above my pay grade. All I know is that the hit took place at 3.30am IST at Balakot. It was according to plan because at that time the terrorists were still in bed; yet to rise for the fajr namaaz at 4am. I was monitoring from my home using secure communications, the Vice-Chief and Western Air Commander were in operations room. I briefed the defence minister, the NSA, and the two chiefs after the attack.

Were you sure that the target was hit?

The weather was the main criterion. It could have been an abort due to the weather. The decision was with Western Air Command. If this plan was aborted, we would have launched other weapons. We hit the target with five stand-off weapons. The ‘target hit’ information was delayed as weapons for video recording the kill failed, and the satellite pass at 8.30am could not pick up much due to clouds. The first confirmation came through synthetic aperture camera, showing penetration in the roof of Balakot buildings. We hit three buildings and left one deliberately. The weapon is designed in such a way that building survives but the occupants don’t.

Latest intelligence reveals that Pakistan has reactivated the Balakot site. Will things change on the terror front?

With the induction of the S-400 missile system and the Rafales, we will be in position to effect a behavioural change within the Pakistan establishment. If we had these two platforms or only Rafale with us on February 27, and we had shot down four or five of their aircrafts, the behavioural change would have taken place immediately.

On August 2, 2002, after the Machchil Sector attack by IAF under Krishnaswamy, the Pakistanis did not respond as they were technically not capable. Their air force did not even try to bomb our positions as we took out Pakistan Army post intruding into our side of the Line of Control (LoC).

What if Pakistani forces do not learn from Balakot, and try a Pulwama-like attack again?

I think the government will hit them again. This time harder, and take out the buildings also so that there is no doubt in anyone’s mind.

https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-...FvD5qvl95L_amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

All i see are u turns in this,

First he mentions that india wanted peace but later on he says that after the strike, we expecting retaliation and all three services were ready for full escalation.
To ready yourself against a huge LOC and IB, it takes weeks and months to plan out especially if you are expecting retaliation.

But we were prepared with two upgraded Mirage 2000s, two SU-30 MKIs and six Bisons got airborne from Srinagar. If we had signed the contract in time, it would have been six Rafales.

If we had these two platforms or only Rafale with us on February 27, and we had shot down four or five of their aircrafts

Second, REGRET REGRET REGRET. If we had bla bla bla, what about your mini awacs and raptor of the east ? And again, by saying that your pilots using M2Ks and MKIs and Bisons weren’t able to shot down mere Falcons, your pilots don’t deserve that title, that’s a disgrace to international community of AirForce Pilots.

Let the Rafale come, 2 years later they will say “If we had F-35/F-22”

If it was a kill-all destroy-all mission, we would have used supersonic low level Brahmos missile, to which Pakistan did not have any answer.

This hints their intentions and their wish for a nuclear war. Also the recent movement of Brahmos to LOC, they will use it someday unexpectedly. They think we don't have surprises, they have no idea who we actually are !!! We have surprises and i am sure one day they will be used against these over confident petty scums. PAF is just one example of giving surprises again n again. Ababeel was a surprise and so was RAAD II and Babur 3.

 

[Jackdaws]

Is this true?
"Let me give you an example, the same thing happened on September 7, 1965, the day IAF’s Mystere aircraft raided Sargodha airbase in hinterland Pakistan and Squadron Leader AB Devayya got a Mahavir Chakra many years later. In that raid, IAF lost a Mystere aircraft that fell on their side, and we did not claim the kill that time. But PAF lost a vastly superior Starfighter. Many years later, Pakistan acknowledged the fact."

??

 

[Areesh]

Is this true?
"Let me give you an example, the same thing happened on September 7, 1965, the day IAF’s Mystere aircraft raided Sargodha airbase in hinterland Pakistan and Squadron Leader AB Devayya got a Mahavir Chakra many years later. In that raid, IAF lost a Mystere aircraft that fell on their side, and we did not claim the kill that time. But PAF lost a vastly superior Starfighter. Many years later, Pakistan acknowledged the fact."

??

Indian version of story

Star fighter wasn't shot down by IAF Mystere but it crashed after running into exploding Mystere

In any case even the most anti Pakistan goras that pajeets used to worship don't agree with even a single Indian claim about balakot or PAF f16

https://twitter.com/x/status/1227332528803057664

 

[StormBreaker]

Is this true?
"Let me give you an example, the same thing happened on September 7, 1965, the day IAF’s Mystere aircraft raided Sargodha airbase in hinterland Pakistan and Squadron Leader AB Devayya got a Mahavir Chakra many years later. In that raid, IAF lost a Mystere aircraft that fell on their side, and we did not claim the kill that time. But PAF lost a vastly superior Starfighter. Many years later, Pakistan acknowledged the fact."

??

@Knuckles ?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Thread title changed to reflect actual reality instead of Ancient Indian Vedic space travel and internet realities.

I think the government will hit them again. This time harder, and take out the buildings also so that there is no doubt in anyone’s mind.

And Pakistan will take out Indian military installations in response.

What Pakistan made clear after Balakot was that any attack by India on Pakistani soil, whether against a military or non-military ‘militant’ target, will result in Pakistan climbing the escalation ladder and targeting Indian military installations.

 

[Areesh]

@Knuckles ?

That f104 wasn't shot down by
Devayya as i said above

You can read more about that "kill" here by very credible Kaiser Tufail

On the lookout for other Mystères, Amjad soon spotted one that was turning for him. To give himself enough manoeuvring room, Amjad pulled up for a ‘yo-yo’ bouncing upto 7,000 ft and then down to low level again. As he tried to get behind the Mystère, Amjad realised that he was up against a very determined pilot who was unwilling to give any quarter. Amjad was forced to do another ‘yo-yo’ to prevent an overshoot. The fight dragged on for a while and, with a series of turns into each other, developed into a classic ‘scissors’ manoeuvre. Manoeuvrability is not what the Starfighter was designed for. With diminutive, razor-sharp wings and a powerful engine, it could substitute as a rocket for astronaut training but when it came to air combat, perhaps a boulder could do better. This lesson drove home late for Amjad as he pressed the trigger a moment too long for a shot of opportunity, while crossing the Mystère’s tail. With little residual lift available for manoeuvring and high rate of closure, the inevitable happened — the Starfighter rammed into the stricken Mystère! His controls frozen, Amjad ejected with barely enough time for the parachute to blossom fully.

http://paf-eagles.blogspot.com/2014/12/mystery-of-downed-mystere.html?m=1

 

[Skywalker]

There is a reason his parents added BS in his name, since day one they knew that they have conceived an idiot wether intentionally or in unintentionally.

 

[PakSword]

This guy BS is such a disgrace to every professional air force pilot, including those of Rwanda and Afghanistan.

Below he says that he can't show IAF's ability to intercept communication to win brownie points:

The fact is, if we show you the full video, do you want us to expose our technical capability, given there are gaps due to mountainous terrain, or our ability to intercept their secure communication — all this just to win brownie points in the media?

And here he is exposing IAF's capability by telling the Indian audience that they have recordings of it:

They have lost a combat aircraft and we have recordings of it.

Everyone knows that once you tell that you have a capability to do something, there's no harm in showcasing the result of that capability. Someone should tell him that providing voice recordings, without divulging how you have recorded them, does not constitute to exposing the "technical" side of your capability. If you have already stated that you have the recordings, you have effectively told your enemy that you have the capability.. after that not presenting the results doesn't make any sense at all.. Either you choose to keep your ugly ar$e shut and not tell anything.. or present the proof without giving out technical details of your capability.

Mr. BS.. if you had a recording, you would have presented it with the screen shots of your radar systems. You were so desperate that you couldn't stop yourself from doing a pathetic paint job.. lolll



And below is the most stupid statement of all.. The kill was attributed to Abhinandan not because Abhinandan told you that he has shot an enemy fighter jet (specifically an F-16), but after analyzing that since only Abhinandan was there, only he could have shot down a F-16. lolll.. This means they do not have shit to support their statements.. even Abhinandan sent a lanat on the higher ups for making him a joke around the world..

The kill is attributed to Abhinandan as there was nobody else in that sector.

BS has lost it guys.. That's why intelligent Indians are not seen defending his ch*tiatic statements anymore..

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

I think this guy is going to write a book... either he himself figures out or someone should let him know that he is gifted story teller and can make stuff up on the whim only then overtime back that up with sub stories and plots. So, unless he said that already let me be amongst the first ones to announce an upcoming book(s) aptly named B.S. Achievements of IAF! or When B.S. hit the Jets!

Goodluck!

 

[SIPRA]

BS has lost it guys.. That's why intelligent Indians are not seen defending his ch*tiatic statements anymore..

Gangus are, very conspicuously, almost absent from this thread.