'Pak F-16 pilot was beaten up by locals, probably died in hospital'

She said Pakistan would not admit having lost the F-16 or its pilot, much like it did not acknowledge the “sacrifices” of its regular soldiers during the Kargil conflict. The F-16 pilot was beaten up by local villagers in Pakistan, and probably died in a hospital, said Sitharaman, adding that “Pakistan lives in a state of denial.”