Photo: Radio Pakistan courtesy Express Tribune
Pakistan Wednesday shot down two Indian aircraft near the Line of Control inside Azad Kashmir, a day after India carried out incursions into the country with its warplanes.
A pilot of one of the Indian planes has been arrested by Pakistan.
Islamabad presented the Pakistani Air Force strikes as proof of the country’s ability and commitment to self-defense. Officials said Pakistan took the action from its side of the Line of Control in disputed Kashmir region.
Indian officials said Pakistani jets violated the Line of Control, and a report in Times of India claimed that the Indian Air Force shot down Pakistani F-16 fighter plane that violated the airspace.
#BreakingNews: Local people of Occupied Kashmir gather at site where Indian fighter jet crashed in Budgam https://t.co/GVP8q0djrC pic.twitter.com/7vgXy6Hd1W
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) February 27, 2019
Tensions have been soaring between two nuclear-armed neighbors since a February 14 militant attack that killed 40 Indian security personnel in Pulwama.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and extremist groups backing his BJP government have whipped up a war hysteria in South Asia.
#Pakistanstrikesback #PAF undertook strikes across LoC from Pakistani airspace. Sole purpose of this action was to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence. We do not wish to escalate but are fully prepared if forced into that paradigm#PakistanZindabad
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) February 27, 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been urging talks and also offered help with investigation into Pulwama attacks but New Delhi went ahead with incursions into Pakistani airspace.
On Tuesday India claimed that it destroyed the training camp of militant organization Jaish e Mohammad in Balakot inside Pakistan in a daring escalatory step, sending a wave of anger and protest through the nation.
“Sole purpose of this action was to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence. We do not wish to escalate but are fully prepared if forced into that paradigm,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
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.
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019
Pakistan military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor also confirmed the news.
“PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K [Azad Jammu and Kashmir] while other fell inside IoK [Indian occupied Kashmir]. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on groubnd while two in the area.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government had pledged to retaliate after Wednesday’s Indian incursion.
