India On High Alert As Pakistani Fighter Jets Violate Indian Airspace
Pakistani Jets had violated Indian air space and dropped some bombs on their way out, just a day after India’s IAF carried out air strikes across the line of control. This was reported by a major Indian news agency quoting officials.
The Pakistani jets entered the border areas of Nowshera Sector in J&K’s Rajouri district, added the news agency.
Earlier, Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Pakistan will respond in a time of their own choosing. Also said he would ‘surprise’ India with their responses in all domains including political, diplomatic and military.
While the script did not play out as per Pakistan's plan, with even China remaining neutral and urging restraint on both sides, India mounted a diplomatic offensive briefing other major powers on the Balakot airstrikes. India's foreign secretary, Vijay Gokhale described the Tuesday morning airstrikes as "non-military, pre-emptive action."
The army, Navy and Air Force chiefs met PM Modi on Tuesday, February 26 to brief him about the security situation in the country following the air strikes.
In the wake of current developments, a red alert has been sounded in all the important spots across India including airports in Leh, jammu, Pathankot and Srinagar. While many commercial flights have been put on hold, airspace is said to have been suspended due to security reasons.
Indian officials confirmed the entry of at least three Pakistani fighter jets into the Indian airspace.
Social media was abuzz with Pictures of craters formed from Pakistani bombs dropped near Indian Army post in Rajouri sector. All commercial flights have been suspended in North India.
Meanwhile, Pakistan claimed that it had shot down an Indian aircraft which had violated the Pakistani airspace. A statement released by Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor of Pakistan stated that an Indian pilot was taken into their custody.
In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area. — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019
However, an investigation into the news revealed that Pakistan was using a 2016 video of an air crash in Jodhpur to make the claims.
FACT CHECK: Pak media & social media peddling images of 2016 & 2018 crashes in Jodhpur & Odisha trying to suggest they are IAF jets shot down today. pic.twitter.com/LK11RqLRW4 — Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) February 27, 2019
On the other hand, the IAF refuted claims of any Indian pilot in Pak custody and said that all its pilots were accounted for.
Media reports say that SU30s had engaged 3 Pakistani F16s which attempted to violate Indian airspace and shot down one of them in Lam valley. The SU30s were part of a combat air patrol mission
Also Read: Yes, We Did It: India Confirms Striking JeM Terror Camps In Pakistan
