The casualty figure in the Balakot air strike in Pakistan will be released by the government, said Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa in a media briefing, adding that the Indian Air Force does not count the number of dead. He also said that the death toll depends on the number of people present at the target.

On February 26, Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale, confirmed that India had carried out an airstrike on terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan. However, he said, it was not in retaliation to the Pulwama attack but was a pre-emptive strike as JeM was planning more attacks on the country.

Pakistan in retaliation entered the Indian airspace the next day and dropped bombs on military targets across the Line of Control. India believes the jet used by Pakistan was an F-16 fighter jet, which can only be used for countering terrorism and not in retaliation, war or in spite.

When Dhanoa was asked why India used a MiG-21 Bison against Pakistan’s F-16, he said: “MiG-21 Bison is capable, it has been upgraded, it has a better weapons system and a better radar. It is an upgraded aircraft. We fight with all aircraft in our inventory.”

The Rafale jet should come into India's inventory by September, the Air Force chief told reporters in a press briefing held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

India ordered 36 planes from Dassault Aviation as part of a modernisation programme of the air force which is phasing out its Soviet-era planes.

Dhanoa declined to comment on the ongoing operation. He, however, said that during the war in 1971, pilots dared to attempt strikes at night time also.

"One is a planned operation in which you plan and carry out. But when an adversary does a strike on you, every available aircraft goes in, irrespective of which aircraft it is. All aircraft are capable of fighting the enemy," Dhanoa said.

Whether IAF Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman will continue serving the defence forces, Dhanoa said if he is fit he will fly fighter jets. "We don't take chances with the medical fitness of a pilot," he said. All required treatment will be given to Wing Commander Abhinandan, Dhanoa said.

Varthaman was detained in Pakistan but was returned to India on Friday, as a peace offering.

(With inputs from agencies)

First Published:Mar 4, 2019 1:26 PM IST