The Atlantique Incident.

[Signalian]

@Irfan Baloch
@PakFactor
@MM_Haider
@blueazure
@Falcon26
@Areesh

No nation has a monopoly of virtue, no nation has a monopoly of mindless cruelty.

I read the earlier thread with increasing distress at the remarks and comments; the thread was thankfully closed by @The Eagle, and I ignored his closing remarks and those of @SQ8, both figures whom I respect very highly, as occasioned by the malice of the OP.

@niaz Sahib's post above reaffirmed the veneration I bear the man, and my reverence for his moral courage.

For those of you who have commented, I ask you to read the account below. Another pilot did what Bundela was ordered to do; he was not Indian. He shot down a civilian plane, not one with military markings; he shot down the plane far outside his own territory, not on the border. Try, if you can, to retain some humanity in your posts, if not in your feelings.

Pak Pilot's Remorse for 1965 Shooting of Indian Plane

ISLAMABAD / REZAUL H LASKAR


Almost half-a-century after he shot down an Indian civilian aircraft carrying the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, a Pakistan Air Force pilot has apologised to the daughter of the pilot of the downed plane, saying he was "not a trigger-happy person" and this happened in the line of duty during the 1965 war.

Qais Hussain was a rookie Flying Officer during the 1965 war when he shot down the Beechcraft piloted by distinguished ex-Indian Air Force pilot Jehangir Engineer.

Besides Engineer and the then Gujarat Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta, the Chief Minister's wife Sarojben Mehta, three members of his personal staff, a crew member and a reporter of the Gujarat Samachar were killed in the incident.

Hussain, who wrote an e-mail to Engineer's daughter, decided to explain his side of the story after PAF officer-turned-blogger Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and concluded that Pakistani officials had wrongly surmised that the Indian aircraft was on a surveillance mission.

"We were at war at the time and the initial impression after I shot down the aircraft was that we had been able to eliminate a new front. We were all very happy and I got a pat on the back from my colleagues," Hussain, 70, told PTI.

Referring to the incident of September 19, 1965, Hussain said: "This happened at about 4 pm. At 7 pm, All India Radio announced the aircraft that was shot down was carrying the Chief Minister and our mood became very sombre. We all repented what had happened but the event fell by the wayside."

After Air Commodore (Retd) Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and wrote a piece on it for his blog in April, Hussain said he was spurred to convey his condolences to the families of those who died when he shot down the Beechcraft.

"I thought it was better late than never. I'm happy to have been able to do something. I wanted to say that I was not a trigger-happy person and this happened in the confusion of war," he said.

Thanks to the efforts of Naveed Riaz, a Lahore-based businessman and aviation enthusiast, and Indian military aviation expert Jagan Pillarisetti, Hussain got the email address of Jehangir 'Jungoo' Engineer's daughter Farida Singh and wrote to her on August 5.

"If an opportunity ever arises that I could meet you face to face to condole the death of your father 46 years back, I would grab it with both hands. I would highly appreciate if you please convey my feelings to the other members of your family, who were equally hurt by the untimely departure of Jungoo to the next world," Hussain wrote in his email.

He explained he had acted only after he was ordered to shoot down the Indian aircraft by his controller, who had mistakenly concluded that the Beechcraft was on a surveillance mission.

"Your father spotted my presence immediately and he started climbing and waggling his wings seeking mercy. Instead of firing at him at first sight, I relayed to my controller that I had intercepted an eight-seat transport aircraft (guessing by the four side windows) and wanted further instructions to deal with it," Hussain wrote in his email.

"At the same time, I was hoping that I would be called back without firing a shot. There was a lapse of three to four long minutes before I was given clear orders to shoot the aircraft," wrote Hussain, who left the PAF three years after the incident.

Qais has a conscience thankfully, hope to see same from Indian side.

 

[Thorough Pro]

That was destiny, justice would have been at the hands of PAF. It absolutely boils my blood when we don't take revenge of such cowardly crimes.

some justice in the end. the coward was following orders but his death was very fitting.

Indians were peed off due to losing two of their fighter jets in Kargil war and it was just a matter of time they were going to avenge this. they did what any cheap or opportunist enemy must do there is nothing fair in war. PAF must have known better and provided PN air cover where possible and PN air wing must have conducted its flights with safety in mind.

since 27 Feb 19 thrashing Indians have been on the look out for a cheap opportunity and I wont be surprised if they even try to shoot down a passenger plane of Pakistan. with that mindset there is no excuse to be complacent.

 

[Jugger]

I have my reasons to believe that this single incident was a major reason for Mig 21s to continue in IAF service for 2 more decade.

The glory days of Mig 21s are long over.... they need to be put to rest in museums.

 

[Falcon26]

these courts are a sham, their judges are from countries that have economic interests with India.
rest is Indian lobby and diplomacy that turns the ruling in its favor. Pakistan will never ever win a case even if its written on paper that violation can be mediated and guaranteed. money rules rest is all just stories.

So why does Pakistan keep accepting these courts jurisdiction?

 

[PakFactor]

So why does Pakistan keep accepting these courts jurisdiction?

Nawaz & Co., traitors through and through.

 

[SQ8]

@Joe Shearer
Ill be clearly open - Barring the few left on PDF and a personal view of my friends whom I shared the same meal and laughs with for a good number of years; India has gone to shite. To quote the other thread where the Indian liberal is being decried for their inaction when the 56 inch came about; this desperation for recognition and prowess is almost Shakespearian tragedy in nature.

I can see the same feeble defense one mounts of their countrymen as I have over the years when all sense seems to depart, but just as we has to realize after 40000 dead that some are not “lost brothers” , the new India and those watching sheepishly in the hope Narendra Reagan’s Indian decade works for them will realize rue their acquiescence.

Quite frankly, for all my decrying of my countrymen’s own ineptitude and failings of morality, I for once see that since 48 it may be the second or third time that we may be 50.000001% on the right side of history.

Unfortunately, it seems that due to the deserved and then the counter malice narrative that India gets today you and Nilgiri have had to do what perhaps is construed is patriotism and right for your country to defend the venomous snakes in your backyard and frontyard under the hope they’ll turn out to be harmless - history, our history right next door apparently has been put on a pile of burning books it seems.

I don’t defend my malice against the malice I see now, simply because I realized after seeing a friend killed and his unit’s men’s head tossed around like a football by terrorist religious extremists that they are too far gone to consider humans worthwhile saving or bringing back - I see the same now for this man’s true believers.

 

[Joe Shearer]

@Joe Shearer
Ill be clearly open - Barring the few left on PDF and a personal view of my friends whom I shared the same meal and laughs with for a good number of years; India has gone to shite. To quote the other thread where the Indian liberal is being decried for their inaction when the 56 inch came about; this desperation for recognition and prowess is almost Shakespearian tragedy in nature.

I can see the same feeble defense one mounts of their countrymen as I have over the years when all sense seems to depart, but just as we has to realize after 40000 dead that some are not “lost brothers” , the new India and those watching sheepishly in the hope Narendra Reagan’s Indian decade works for them will realize rue their acquiescence.

Quite frankly, for all my decrying of my countrymen’s own ineptitude and failings of morality, I for once see that since 48 it may be the second or third time that we may be 50.000001% on the right side of history.

Unfortunately, it seems that due to the deserved and then the counter malice narrative that India gets today you and Nilgiri have had to do what perhaps is construed is patriotism and right for your country to defend the venomous snakes in your backyard and frontyard under the hope they’ll turn out to be harmless - history, our history right next door apparently has been put on a pile of burning books it seems.

I don’t defend my malice against the malice I see now, simply because I realized after seeing a friend killed and his unit’s men’s head tossed around like a football by terrorist religious extremists that they are too far gone to consider humans worthwhile saving or bringing back - I see the same now for this man’s true believers.

I have nothing to add to the post I made. My respect for you remains undiminished; your comments in the earlier thread hurt, but it is beyond me to do anything about the reasons for those comments, so it is better to bow my head and let it pass.

 

[S A L M A N.]

It is alleged by a former high ranking naval officer that the fact-finding inquiry at NHQ Pakistan falsified the events and facts related to this incident.
The real reasons were buried and never revealed.
Pathetic leadership and diplomacy sealed the deal and made us look like the guilty party.

 

[blueazure]

@Irfan Baloch
@PakFactor
@MM_Haider
@blueazure
@Falcon26
@Areesh

No nation has a monopoly of virtue, no nation has a monopoly of mindless cruelty.

I read the earlier thread with increasing distress at the remarks and comments; the thread was thankfully closed by @The Eagle, and I ignored his closing remarks and those of @SQ8, both figures whom I respect very highly, as occasioned by the malice of the OP.

@niaz Sahib's post above reaffirmed the veneration I bear the man, and my reverence for his moral courage.

For those of you who have commented, I ask you to read the account below. Another pilot did what Bundela was ordered to do; he was not Indian. He shot down a civilian plane, not one with military markings; he shot down the plane far outside his own territory, not on the border. Try, if you can, to retain some humanity in your posts, if not in your feelings.

Pak Pilot's Remorse for 1965 Shooting of Indian Plane

ISLAMABAD / REZAUL H LASKAR


Almost half-a-century after he shot down an Indian civilian aircraft carrying the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, a Pakistan Air Force pilot has apologised to the daughter of the pilot of the downed plane, saying he was "not a trigger-happy person" and this happened in the line of duty during the 1965 war.

Qais Hussain was a rookie Flying Officer during the 1965 war when he shot down the Beechcraft piloted by distinguished ex-Indian Air Force pilot Jehangir Engineer.

Besides Engineer and the then Gujarat Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta, the Chief Minister's wife Sarojben Mehta, three members of his personal staff, a crew member and a reporter of the Gujarat Samachar were killed in the incident.

Hussain, who wrote an e-mail to Engineer's daughter, decided to explain his side of the story after PAF officer-turned-blogger Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and concluded that Pakistani officials had wrongly surmised that the Indian aircraft was on a surveillance mission.

"We were at war at the time and the initial impression after I shot down the aircraft was that we had been able to eliminate a new front. We were all very happy and I got a pat on the back from my colleagues," Hussain, 70, told PTI.

Referring to the incident of September 19, 1965, Hussain said: "This happened at about 4 pm. At 7 pm, All India Radio announced the aircraft that was shot down was carrying the Chief Minister and our mood became very sombre. We all repented what had happened but the event fell by the wayside."

After Air Commodore (Retd) Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and wrote a piece on it for his blog in April, Hussain said he was spurred to convey his condolences to the families of those who died when he shot down the Beechcraft.

"I thought it was better late than never. I'm happy to have been able to do something. I wanted to say that I was not a trigger-happy person and this happened in the confusion of war," he said.

Thanks to the efforts of Naveed Riaz, a Lahore-based businessman and aviation enthusiast, and Indian military aviation expert Jagan Pillarisetti, Hussain got the email address of Jehangir 'Jungoo' Engineer's daughter Farida Singh and wrote to her on August 5.

"If an opportunity ever arises that I could meet you face to face to condole the death of your father 46 years back, I would grab it with both hands. I would highly appreciate if you please convey my feelings to the other members of your family, who were equally hurt by the untimely departure of Jungoo to the next world," Hussain wrote in his email.

He explained he had acted only after he was ordered to shoot down the Indian aircraft by his controller, who had mistakenly concluded that the Beechcraft was on a surveillance mission.

"Your father spotted my presence immediately and he started climbing and waggling his wings seeking mercy. Instead of firing at him at first sight, I relayed to my controller that I had intercepted an eight-seat transport aircraft (guessing by the four side windows) and wanted further instructions to deal with it," Hussain wrote in his email.

"At the same time, I was hoping that I would be called back without firing a shot. There was a lapse of three to four long minutes before I was given clear orders to shoot the aircraft," wrote Hussain, who left the PAF three years after the incident.

@Joe Shearer

wartime vs peace time


1965 vs 1999

declared hostilities vs cease fire


-----------------------

 

[untitled]

It is alleged by a former high ranking naval officer that the fact-finding inquiry at NHQ Pakistan falsified the events and facts related to this incident.

Have heard plenty of conspiracy theories regarding this incident including the one where our political leadership wanted to give Vajpayee a face saving

 

[SQ8]

I have nothing to add to the post I made. My respect for you remains undiminished; your comments in the earlier thread hurt, but it is beyond me to do anything about the reasons for those comments, so it is better to bow my head and let it pass.

If you can read.. or not...he passed away yesterday..

haath ḳhālī haiñ tire shahr se jaate jaate

jaan hotī to mirī jaan luTāte jaate

Rahat Indori also famously quipped regarding Hindustan..

Sab hee ka khoon shamil hai isse banane mein

kissi ke baap ka thori hai hindustan.


When in Pakistan he used to replace Hindustan with Pakistan... an allusion to the some racist “Elite” members we have on PDF.

 

[wasileo80]

@Irfan Baloch
@PakFactor
@MM_Haider
@blueazure
@Falcon26
@Areesh

No nation has a monopoly of virtue, no nation has a monopoly of mindless cruelty.

I read the earlier thread with increasing distress at the remarks and comments; the thread was thankfully closed by @The Eagle, and I ignored his closing remarks and those of @SQ8, both figures whom I respect very highly, as occasioned by the malice of the OP.

@niaz Sahib's post above reaffirmed the veneration I bear the man, and my reverence for his moral courage.

For those of you who have commented, I ask you to read the account below. Another pilot did what Bundela was ordered to do; he was not Indian. He shot down a civilian plane, not one with military markings; he shot down the plane far outside his own territory, not on the border. Try, if you can, to retain some humanity in your posts, if not in your feelings.

Pak Pilot's Remorse for 1965 Shooting of Indian Plane

ISLAMABAD / REZAUL H LASKAR


Almost half-a-century after he shot down an Indian civilian aircraft carrying the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, a Pakistan Air Force pilot has apologised to the daughter of the pilot of the downed plane, saying he was "not a trigger-happy person" and this happened in the line of duty during the 1965 war.

Qais Hussain was a rookie Flying Officer during the 1965 war when he shot down the Beechcraft piloted by distinguished ex-Indian Air Force pilot Jehangir Engineer.

Besides Engineer and the then Gujarat Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta, the Chief Minister's wife Sarojben Mehta, three members of his personal staff, a crew member and a reporter of the Gujarat Samachar were killed in the incident.

Hussain, who wrote an e-mail to Engineer's daughter, decided to explain his side of the story after PAF officer-turned-blogger Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and concluded that Pakistani officials had wrongly surmised that the Indian aircraft was on a surveillance mission.

"We were at war at the time and the initial impression after I shot down the aircraft was that we had been able to eliminate a new front. We were all very happy and I got a pat on the back from my colleagues," Hussain, 70, told PTI.

Referring to the incident of September 19, 1965, Hussain said: "This happened at about 4 pm. At 7 pm, All India Radio announced the aircraft that was shot down was carrying the Chief Minister and our mood became very sombre. We all repented what had happened but the event fell by the wayside."

After Air Commodore (Retd) Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and wrote a piece on it for his blog in April, Hussain said he was spurred to convey his condolences to the families of those who died when he shot down the Beechcraft.

"I thought it was better late than never. I'm happy to have been able to do something. I wanted to say that I was not a trigger-happy person and this happened in the confusion of war," he said.

Thanks to the efforts of Naveed Riaz, a Lahore-based businessman and aviation enthusiast, and Indian military aviation expert Jagan Pillarisetti, Hussain got the email address of Jehangir 'Jungoo' Engineer's daughter Farida Singh and wrote to her on August 5.

"If an opportunity ever arises that I could meet you face to face to condole the death of your father 46 years back, I would grab it with both hands. I would highly appreciate if you please convey my feelings to the other members of your family, who were equally hurt by the untimely departure of Jungoo to the next world," Hussain wrote in his email.

He explained he had acted only after he was ordered to shoot down the Indian aircraft by his controller, who had mistakenly concluded that the Beechcraft was on a surveillance mission.

"Your father spotted my presence immediately and he started climbing and waggling his wings seeking mercy. Instead of firing at him at first sight, I relayed to my controller that I had intercepted an eight-seat transport aircraft (guessing by the four side windows) and wanted further instructions to deal with it," Hussain wrote in his email.

"At the same time, I was hoping that I would be called back without firing a shot. There was a lapse of three to four long minutes before I was given clear orders to shoot the aircraft," wrote Hussain, who left the PAF three years after the incident.

That incident happened in WAR, and in WAR every thing considered as a threat, Like in start of 1965, on 6th September IAF attacked a passenger train near Hafiz Abad station. In WAR you cant ignore anything, as you dont know how much it can cost you later if you ignore that. And also that is something called courage if someone accepts his mistake later on publicly and apologies for his mistake.
But does this courage also exist in IAF, and which war was going on in August 1999? Even in incidents like this, even a military plane of a size of passenger plane escorted out of their Air Space even if its violating enemy air space.. there are hundred of examples of incidents like this, where enemy military planes are escorted out of their air space safely. But this is only IAF professionalism who can got medal by shooting down an unarmed Aircraft on an air space violation dispute.
Shame on IAF.

 

[The Eagle]

@Irfan Baloch
@PakFactor
@MM_Haider
@blueazure
@Falcon26
@Areesh

No nation has a monopoly of virtue, no nation has a monopoly of mindless cruelty.

I read the earlier thread with increasing distress at the remarks and comments; the thread was thankfully closed by @The Eagle, and I ignored his closing remarks and those of @SQ8, both figures whom I respect very highly, as occasioned by the malice of the OP.

@niaz Sahib's post above reaffirmed the veneration I bear the man, and my reverence for his moral courage.

For those of you who have commented, I ask you to read the account below. Another pilot did what Bundela was ordered to do; he was not Indian. He shot down a civilian plane, not one with military markings; he shot down the plane far outside his own territory, not on the border. Try, if you can, to retain some humanity in your posts, if not in your feelings.

Pak Pilot's Remorse for 1965 Shooting of Indian Plane

ISLAMABAD / REZAUL H LASKAR


Almost half-a-century after he shot down an Indian civilian aircraft carrying the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, a Pakistan Air Force pilot has apologised to the daughter of the pilot of the downed plane, saying he was "not a trigger-happy person" and this happened in the line of duty during the 1965 war.

Qais Hussain was a rookie Flying Officer during the 1965 war when he shot down the Beechcraft piloted by distinguished ex-Indian Air Force pilot Jehangir Engineer.

Besides Engineer and the then Gujarat Chief Minister Balwantrai Mehta, the Chief Minister's wife Sarojben Mehta, three members of his personal staff, a crew member and a reporter of the Gujarat Samachar were killed in the incident.

Hussain, who wrote an e-mail to Engineer's daughter, decided to explain his side of the story after PAF officer-turned-blogger Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and concluded that Pakistani officials had wrongly surmised that the Indian aircraft was on a surveillance mission.

"We were at war at the time and the initial impression after I shot down the aircraft was that we had been able to eliminate a new front. We were all very happy and I got a pat on the back from my colleagues," Hussain, 70, told PTI.

Referring to the incident of September 19, 1965, Hussain said: "This happened at about 4 pm. At 7 pm, All India Radio announced the aircraft that was shot down was carrying the Chief Minister and our mood became very sombre. We all repented what had happened but the event fell by the wayside."

After Air Commodore (Retd) Kaiser Tufail researched the incident and wrote a piece on it for his blog in April, Hussain said he was spurred to convey his condolences to the families of those who died when he shot down the Beechcraft.

"I thought it was better late than never. I'm happy to have been able to do something. I wanted to say that I was not a trigger-happy person and this happened in the confusion of war," he said.

Thanks to the efforts of Naveed Riaz, a Lahore-based businessman and aviation enthusiast, and Indian military aviation expert Jagan Pillarisetti, Hussain got the email address of Jehangir 'Jungoo' Engineer's daughter Farida Singh and wrote to her on August 5.

"If an opportunity ever arises that I could meet you face to face to condole the death of your father 46 years back, I would grab it with both hands. I would highly appreciate if you please convey my feelings to the other members of your family, who were equally hurt by the untimely departure of Jungoo to the next world," Hussain wrote in his email.

He explained he had acted only after he was ordered to shoot down the Indian aircraft by his controller, who had mistakenly concluded that the Beechcraft was on a surveillance mission.

"Your father spotted my presence immediately and he started climbing and waggling his wings seeking mercy. Instead of firing at him at first sight, I relayed to my controller that I had intercepted an eight-seat transport aircraft (guessing by the four side windows) and wanted further instructions to deal with it," Hussain wrote in his email.

"At the same time, I was hoping that I would be called back without firing a shot. There was a lapse of three to four long minutes before I was given clear orders to shoot the aircraft," wrote Hussain, who left the PAF three years after the incident.

@SQ8 has already penned a lot on this. I will only say that particular thread was closed on the same lines where we make a difference between conscience of a professional as compare to a keyboard RSS chest thumping troll creating thread to make some score and cheap points by taking digs.

 

[Joe Shearer]

@SQ8 has already penned a lot on this. I will only say that particular thread was closed on the same lines where we make a difference between conscience of a professional as compare to a keyboard RSS chest thumping troll creating thread to make some score and cheap points by taking digs.

I really regret that troll's actions. It brought us into disrepute.

 

[waz]

Since the thread 'SHUHADA of PAKISTAN NAVAL AVIATION' has been closed. I have opened this thread.

Here is the story according to: https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Atlantique_incident).
It is not my opinion, I am simply quoting it for the members to read about how the end game was played out. Since I had difficulty in pasting the contents suggest referring to the link if the text appears incoherent.

Quote

The Atlantique Incident was an event in which a Pakistan Navy's Naval Air Arm Breguet Atlantique patrol plane, carrying 16 people on board, was shot down by the Indian Air Force for alleged violation of airspace. The episode took place in Rann of
Kutch on 10 August 1999, just a month after the Kargil War, creating a tense atmosphere between India and Pakistan.

Foreign diplomats based in Pakistan and escorted to the site by the Pakistani Army noted that the plane may have crossed the border. However, the Islamabad based diplomats said that they also believe that India's reaction was unjustified. Pakistan later lodged a compensation claim at the International Court of Justice, accusing India for the incident, but the court dismissed the case, ruling that the court had no jurisdiction in this matter.

Confrontation
The French-built naval plane Breguet Atlantique (Breguet Br.1150 Atlantique) plane, flight Atlantic-91, c/n 33, of 29 Squadron was one of Pakistan Navy's frontline aircraft, used primarily for patrol and reconnaissance. Atlantic-91 left Mehran (Sindh province) Naval base at 9:15 am. Indian Air Force ground radar picked up the flight path of the plane approaching the International Border.Two IAF MiG-21 interceptor aircraft of No.45 Squadron, from the Indian airbase at Naliya in the Kutch region, were soon scrambled by the Indian Air Force. After a series of manoeuvres—and a conflicting version of events from both sides—the two jets were given clearance to shoot down the Pakistani plane. At 11:17 am IST (10:47 am PST), nearly two hours after takeoff from Pakistan, the Atlantique was intercepted and an infrared homing R-60 air-to-air missile was fired at it by Squadron Leader P.K. Bundela, hitting the engine on the port side of the plane. This resulted in the aircraft losing control and spiraling towards a crash at approximately 1100 hours PST and approximate location 23°54′N 68°16′E / 23.9°N 68.267°E, killing all 16 on board the Atlantic-91, including five officers of the Pakistan Navy.

Claims and counterclaims

The region in Kutch, (marked in red) where the incident took place

The event immediately sparked claims and counter-claims by both nations. Pakistan claimed that the plane was unarmed and the and there was no violation of Indian airspace. the debris was found on Pakistan's side of the border. According to the official Pakistan version of events, the plane was on routine training mission inside Pakistan air space. The Pakistani prime minister stated during the funeral service of the airmen that the shooting was a barbaric act.


Enlarged map of the region showing Sir Creek and Kori Creek area where the plane was shot down and wreckage was found

The Indian Air force, however, claimed that the aeroplane did not respond to international protocol and that the plane acted in a "hostile" manner, adding that the debris of a downed aircraft could fall over a wide radius. Indian sources also state that
Pakistani Information Minister, Mushahid Hussein, was initially quoted saying that the aircraft was on a surveillance mission. India also accused that the plane violated 1991 agreement where no military aircraft is supposed to come anywhere near 10 km from the border (although Pakistan claimed the Atlantique wasn't a combat aircraft). Indian experts also questioned why a training mission was being done so close to the international border since all air forces clearly demarcate training areas for flight, which are located well away from the borders.

According to them, the Pakistani claim was untenable since the primary role of the Atlantique is for operations over the sea and that to carry out a training flight over land deep inside foreign territory was an indication of its use in a surveillance role. India displayed part of the wreckage of the Pakistani naval aircraft at New Delhi airport the next day. Pakistan however, stated that the wreckage was removed from its side of the border by Indian helicopters.

While Pakistan said that the plane was unarmed and the debris was within Pakistani territory, India maintained that warnings had been given to the Atlantique and that its flight trajectory meant it could have fallen on either side of the border. According to the Indian version of events, the MiGs tried to escort it to a nearby Indian base, when the Pakistani aircraft turned abruptly and tried to make a dash for the border; it was only then that it was fired upon. India claimed that the debris was found in a radius of 2 km on either side of the border and that the intrusion took place 10 km inside the Kori Creek, which is Indian territory. Pakistan requested that the matter be taken up in the UN. Indian officials blamed that there had been previous violations in the area and pointed out that in the previous year a Pakistani unmanned surveillance aircraft had intruded 150 km inside the Indian border, coming close to the Bhuj air base before the IAF spotted it and brought it down with several missiles.

Indian analysts state "flare-ups" in the Rann of Kutch region were routine, and despite bilateral agreements, both Indian and Pakistan had conducted air intrusions in the past. Thus, the fact that the Atlantique was shot down, despite coming close to the Indian border, came as a surprise.

Indian officials add that Pakistan military aircraft had violated Indian airspace at least 50 times since January 1999, showing videotapes of Pakistani Atlantique buzzing or flying provocatively near the Indian Navy's warships in the Indian Ocean. Some Indian analysts stated that the Atlantique was nearly destroyed in 1983 on a similar encounter and noted other close encounters and violations from Pakistani naval planes

Some experts stated that the Atlantique was probably conducting a "probe" on India's air defence system, mainly the radar equipment in the border area; however, they advised that it was not part of any planned aggressive military action by Pakistan. Foreign diplomats who visited the crash site noted that the plane "may have strayed into restricted space", and that Islamabad was unable to explain why it was flying so close to the border; they however added that India's reaction to the incident was not justified. Many countries, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the western media questioned the wisdom behind Pakistan's decision to fly military aircraft so close to the Indian border.


Rise in tensions

On the day following the attack, an IAF helicopter carrying journalists to the site of the attack was attacked by the Pakistan Army with a surface-to-air missile. Pakistani officials asserted that two Indian jets had intruded into Pakistani airspace near the Atlantique wreckage site, along the border between the Indian state of Gujarat and Pakistan's Sindh Province, and were then fired upon by Pakistan. International and Indian television journalists travelling in the chopper said the aircraft shook severely and a flash appeared in the air, suggesting a missile had been fired at it. The IAF thus aborted their mission to display Atlantique wreckage on Indian soil.

Following this, and the rising tensions in the area coupled by the fact that the Sir Creek was a disputed territory, both the countries' militaries near the Rann of Kutch and nearby were put on high alert. Pakistan sent a company of soldiers, equipped with both infrared homing shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, to the site near the border. Coming barely weeks after the Kargil Conflict where both nuclear armed countries fought


LawsuitEdit

The International Court of Justice dismissed Pakistan's case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction.

On 21 September 1999, Pakistan lodged a compensation claim at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing India of shooting down an unarmed aircraft. Pakistan sought about US$60 million in reparations from India and compensation for the victims' families. India's attorney general, citing an exemption it filed in 1974 to exclude disputes between India and other Commonwealth States, and disputes covered by multi-lateral treaties. In the buildup to the case, India also contended that Pakistan had violated the 1991 bilateral agreement between Pakistan and India on air violations, which states: "Combat aircraft (including, Bombers, Reconnaissance aircraft, Jet military trainers and Armed helicopters) will not fly within 10 km of each other’s airspace including Air Defense Identification Zone."

On 21 June 2000, the 16-judge Bench headed by Gilbert Guillaume of France ruled—with a 14–2 verdict—upholding India's submission that the court had no jurisdiction in this matter. Pakistan's claims were dropped, without recourse to appeal, and the outcome was seen as a decision highly favourable.


Aftermath

The next day, Pakistan fired missiles on one of the three helicopters carrying journalists into the region. Pakistan said that it fired on Indian fighter jets that were escorting the helicopters and had come inside Pakistani territory.

In India, the incident made the two MiG-21s into instant heroes. On 8 October 2000, the prestigious Squadron Leader P.K. Bundela. The medal was also awarded to Wing Commander V.S. Sharma

The downing of the Pakistani aircraft came at a particularly bad juncture for the Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who was already under attack from politicians for ordering a withdrawal of its troops from Kargil. Two months later he was deposed in a bloodless coup d'état by Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

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Probably the most saddest day outside full military conflict conditions. I remember it well in 98. Rest in peace brothers, you will fly forever.