‘Technology Doesn’t Know Gender’: Sqn Ldr Minty Agarwal on Balakot

Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal was part of a team of flight controllers working behind the scenes of the 26 February Balakot airstrike and the morning after, when Pakistani fighter aircraft entered Indian airspace to retaliate.

Minty’s job was to monitor the enemy aircraft and relay the information to the pilots. Her pivotal role in the success of the operations has earned her a place among the officers who are to be awarded the Yudh Seva Medal on Thursday, 15 August.

Talking to the press, she recounted how the events unfolded.

“On 26 February, we successfully carried out the Balakot mission over non-military camps. We were expecting retaliation, so all of us were extra ready and they retaliated in just 24 hours.”

Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, IAF

What initially seemed to be a handful of aircraft turned out to be a much larger force, she said, but the IAF already had a few aircraft stationed nearby as an air defence measure and subsequently scrambled more aircraft to counter the attack.

“Let me tell you, they came with the intention of destruction. But because of the competency of our pilots, controllers and team, their mission was thwarted.”

Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, IAF

Minty was also the voice in the ear of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot down an F-16 jet while behind the controls of a much more primitive Mig. He landed on the other side of the border as his own aircraft went down and was captured. Varthaman was returned to India in three days, unharmed.

“From the time Wing Commander Abhinandan was airborne I was the one who was providing him the air situation picture. The situation awareness was passed by me to him about the posture of enemy aircraft.”

Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, IAF

Minty also encouraged other women who might want to follow in her footsteps.

“The Indian Air Force is technology sensitive. And technology does not know about gender, it only knows about skill.”

Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, IAF

The key is hard work, focus and determination, she added.

The Squadron Leader also rubbished claims that Pakistan had downed an Indian Su-30 aircraft in the aerial dogfight.

“This is absolutely a false statement. It is propaganda by Pakistan and all Su-30s are accounted for. I know this because I was monitoring the air situation picture,” she said.

(With inputs from ANI)