An F-16 fighter jet launched from Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase was shot down by India’s surface-to-air missile system; artillery shelling continues across Jammu and Punjab borders.
New Delhi, May 8:
Amid the ongoing military escalation following Operation Sindoor, an F-16 fighter jet belonging to the Pakistan Air Force was shot down by an Indian surface-to-air missile (SAM) system near Sargodha airbase, one of Pakistan’s key air force installations, top government sources confirmed.
The Pakistani fighter was reportedly intercepted shortly after takeoff, as it moved into operational range during Pakistan’s attempted aerial incursion targeting regions along the International Border and Line of Control.
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The strike marks a significant military development in the post-Pahalgam attack escalation. It follows Pakistan’s failed drone and missile strike attempts on Jammu. Border areas including RS Pura, Arnia, Samba, and Hiranagar have been under heavy artillery fire from Pakistan through the evening.
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Further south, Pathankot, a critical military base in Punjab, also came under intense shelling. Located barely 30 km from the international border, Pathankot serves as a strategic entry point to Jammu and Kashmir and has been a past target in cross-border terror operations.
Meanwhile, India’s air defence systems remain on high alert, intercepting multiple drones and missiles over border regions.
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India Pakistan conflict, F-16 shot down, Sargodha airbase, Operation Sindoor, Indian SAM system, air defence, Pakistan shelling, Pathankot attack, LoC tension, PAF vs IAF, OperationSindoor,