The Indian Air Force on Thursday displayed parts of the AIM-120C-5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) fired by the F-16

New Delhi: India is sharing with the US evidence on the Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jet brought down in aerial combat over the Line of Control on Wednesday to emphasise that the neighbouring country is misusing assets it may have acquired under the ‘fight against terrorism’ banner in 2008.

The Indian Air Force on Thursday displayed parts of the AIM-120C-5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) fired by the F-16 that has details of its production number and can be tracked by US authorities to understand when they were delivered.

Electronic signatures captured by Indian radars as well as sightings by Indian Army troops on the border who saw two pilots ejecting from the Pakistani fighter inside PoK is also part of the evidence to be presented to the US. Besides, photographs obtained from Pakistani media show parts of the F-16 scattered across the border, senior air force officers said.

“The fact remains that one F-16 of Pakistan was shot down by an IAF MiG 21 Bison aircraft,” Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said, adding that the plane was downed by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

Sources said that the detailed evidence is being shared with Washington that has promised the Indian government all support to de-escalate tensions and ensure that Pakistan complies with its commitment to the US.

Officials said that New Delhi’s objections had been shared with the US in 2008 itself. India had said at the time that the F-16s would be misused against it and that they were not meant for anti-terror operations, as was claimed by Pakistan when it had requested a $890-million funding to upgrade 46 F-16 A/B fighters to a new generation Block 52 version.

Incidentally, the upgrade deal, which was passed after intense debate in the US Congress, included five hundred of the AIM-120C-5 AMRAAMs.

Besides, Pakistan had obtained seven hundred and fifty Mark-84 2000 lb General Purpose bombs, seven hundred BLU–109 2000 lb Penetrator bombs and five hundred Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). US Congress records stated that “these weapons will be available for delivery to Pakistan beginning June 2010”.

In 2008, the Indian Air Force had voiced its concern to the government that the purchase would improve the ability of Pakistan to engage its fighters.

US lawmakers had also raised questions on the deal but were overruled as it was felt that Pakistani support was essential for the fight against the Taliban.