New Delhi: Pakistan Wednesday claimed that it had shot down two Indian fighter jets inside its airspace and arrested one of its pilots.
There was no immediate response to the claim by the Indian Air Force or the Indian defence ministry.
“In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC,” Pakistan’s Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations, Major-General Asif Ghafoor, tweeted.
“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.”
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
MoFA is the Pakistani ministry of foreign affairs. It had issued a statement earlier on Wednesday saying Pakistan Air Force jets had hit targets across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir while flying within Pakistani airspace.
AJ&K is Azad Jammu and Kashmir and IOK is Indian Occupied Kashmir – which is how Pakistan refers to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir respectively.
Also read: Pakistani jets enter Indian air space in J&K’s Nowshera, drop bombs
“Today, Pakistan Air Force undertook strikes across Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace,” the Pakistani foreign ministry statement said.
“This was not a retaliation to continued Indian belligerence. Pakistan has therefore, taken strikes at 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.
“For the last few years, India has been trying to establish what they call ‘a new normal’ a thinly veiled term for doing acts of aggression at whatever pretext they wish on a given day.
“If India is striking at so called terrorist backers without a shred of evidence, we also retain reciprocal rights to retaliate against elements that enjoy Indian patronage while carrying out acts of terror in Pakistan.
“We do not wish to go to that route and wish that India gives peace a chance and to resolve issues like a mature democratic nation,” the statement said.