New Delhi: At least three Pakistani jets on Wednesday violated Indian air space and entered border areas Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Nowshera sectors but were pushed back by Indian aircraft. According to reports, the Pakistani jets dropped bombs near security establishments. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage.
However, Pakistan Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Asif Ghafoor claimed that the Pakistan Air Force “shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace” and they arrested one Indian pilot.
“In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while others fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on the ground while two in the area,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, a Mi-17 transport chopper crashed in Budgam sector of Jammu and Kashmir due to a technical glitch, in which two pilots and a civilian were killed.
The Pakistani government released a statement claiming that the action’s purpose was to “demonstrate our right, will and capability for self-defence.”
“This was not retaliation to continued Indian belligerence. Pakistan has, therefore, taken strikes at the non-military target, avoiding human loss and collateral damage. Sole purpose being to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence. We have no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm. That is why we undertook the action with clear warning and in broad daylight,” said the Pakistani statement.
As per Zee News sources, the Indian Air Force jets have been deployed on “see and shoot” operations.
Meanwhile, the airports in Leh, Jammu, Srinagar and Pathankot have been closed and put on high alert. The airspace has been suspended due to security reason and all commercial and civilian flights have been put on hold.
The area has been on high alert since Tuesday amid anticipation of retaliation by Pakistan after the IAF crossed the Line of Control and demolished Jaish terror camps.
The flare up in the cross-LoC shelling, which was initiated by Pakistani troops in early hours of Wednesday has also resulted in security forces and other establishments being put on a heightened alert.
The incident comes a day after combat jets of the Indian Air Force dismantled Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest camp in Pakistan in a pre-dawn strike on Tuesday, killing a large number of terrorists and trainers of the terror group.