WASHINGTON: The downing of two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets this week persuaded the United States to re-engage Pakistan for ending a dangerous confrontation between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed states, said a former White House official.
After the Pakistani military
shot down two Indian Air Force planes and captured an Indian pilot, the United States walked back its rhetoric of self-defence,” said Shamila N. Chaudhary, who was director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the White House National Security Council under President Barack Obama.
In a piece she wrote for a congressional newspaper,
The Hill, she noted that after Pakistan brought down the IAF planes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
urged both countries “to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost”.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1467092/downing-of-iaf-jets-encouraged-us-mediation
Connected to the US establishment and privy to security clearance at the highest levels is confirming that at least 2 Indian fighter planes have been shot down.
No mention of F16 also, backing up PAF claim.