Balakot is 50 KM from LOC!
How do we define success? Can PAF intrude 50 KM inside IoK and be unharmed? Did the plane intrude 50 KM or the payload reached balakot after flying some good 40+ km while the plane returned from just the buffer zone?
And if this is a success by PAF, then are all the places within 50 KM from the border, at the mercy of IAF? If we can't shoot them being afraid of the debris falling on the indian side, what is the SOP to protect ? What if the "payload" had fallen on a school, or a hospital or madrassah or army camp?
They came , they dropped a payload(though maybe not at the desired target), flew back unharmed! How is this a success for PAF?