An F-16 fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force was shot down after it violated Indian airspace and crossed border areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday.
According to the reports, three Pakistani jets dropped bombs near an Indian Army camp while returning from the Indian airspace.
The PAF's F-16 was shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3km within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, reported ANI.
J&K: Pictures of craters formed from Pakistani bombs dropped near Indian Army post in Rajouri sector. Pic courtesy: Army sources) pic.twitter.com/bAqG1YW3AO
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
Major General Asif Ghafoor, a Pakistan Army spokesperson, tweeted about the attack from his official Twitter handle claiming that PAF shot down two IAF jets inside Pakistan airspace and have arrested a pilot.
"In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down 2 Indian aircraft inside Pak airspace. 1 aircraft fell inside AJ&K, others fell inside IOK. 1 Indian pilot arrested by troops on the ground,2 in the area," the tweet said.
The incident comes in the wake of the aerial attack conducted by IAF in Balakot, Chakoti and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan.
"The jets entered into Indian air space over Nowshera sector this morning," the official said, reported PTI. According to the reports, the Pakistani jets were immediately pushed back by IAF.
Civilian air traffic has been suspended at Srinagar airport due to the ongoing air operations by IAF. Airports in Leh, Jammu, Srinagar and Pathankot are also on high alert.
Let's sit together and settle this with talks: Pakistan PM Imran Khan [Full statement]"I wanted to take the nation into confidence over the developments since yesterday morning. We offered peace to India after what happened in Pulwama. I understand the pain of the families [who lost family members in Pulwama. I have visited hospitals and seen the pain of people affected by violence.
We offered India that we would investigate. We wanted to cooperate and were ready to do so. I feared that India would still take action, and I had, therefore, warned India against aggression. When India stuck yesterday morning, we spoke to our army command and waited to take action until we assessed the damage caused.
Our action was only intended to convey that if you can come into our country, we can do the same. Two of their MiGs were shot down (in the ensuing action). From here, it is imperative that we use our heads and act with wisdom.
All wars are miscalculated, and no one knows where they lead to. World War I was supposed to end in weeks, it took six years. Similarly, the war on terrorism was not supposed to last 17 years. I ask India: with the weapons you have and the weapons we have, can we really afford a miscalculation? If this escalates, it will no longer be in my control or in Modi's.
We understand the grief that you have suffered in Pulwama and are ready for a probe and dialogue. Let's sit together and settle this with talks," said Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
NIA carries out search operations at 11 locations in South KashmirNational Investigation Agency (NIA) carries out search operations at 11 locations in South Kashmir including houses of separatist leaders in connection with Pulwama terror attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy on February 14.
MEA has confirmed only one pilot as "missing in action"Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed only one pilot as "missing in action". While Pakistan had claimed of capturing two IAF pilots.
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "One Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by Indian Air Force. In this engagement we have lost one MiG 21. A pilot is "missing in action". Pakistan claims he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts
Pakistan has not formally informed India about the detention of the pilot which it claims to have in its custodySources to question whether India will take up the case of IAF pilot through diplomatic channels and or UN: Pakistan has not formally informed India about the detention of the pilot which it claims to have in its custody. pic.twitter.com/VVI10MKx8W
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
One Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by Indian Air Force. In this engagement, we have lost one MiG 21. A pilot is lost in action. Pakistan claims he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts.
Arun Jaitley: I remember when the US Navy SEALs had taken Osama Bin Laden from Abbottabad, then can't we do the same?Finance minister Arun Jaitley: A week is too long a time for any country. If you look at last 24 hours, one week would appear to be a day. The kind of things we see...I remember when the US Navy SEALs had taken Osama Bin Laden from Abbottabad (Pakistan),then can't we do the same? pic.twitter.com/eMa5LX1UXq
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
DG ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor of Pakistan army denies any engagement with the aircraft crash in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district.
Indian govt must show maturity and focus on next generations of India rather than just the next elections: Pakistan Tehreek-e-InsafPrime Minister @ImranKhanPTI has always been vocal about preventing war. Indian govt must also show maturity and focus on next generations of India rather than just the next elections.#PakistanZindaabad
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 27, 2019
.After Amritsar, flight operations at Dehradun has also been temporarily suspended.
The airports at Amritsar, Srinagar, Jammu and Leh have been shut down for three months. Flights from Delhi to North Indian states have also been suspended
International flights that transit between Indian and Pakistani airspace now being affectedSources: International flights that transit between Indian and Pakistani airspace now being affected. Some flights returning to origin, while others appear to be seeking alternate routing. pic.twitter.com/HY0f0uj8EK
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
Despite the repeated requests since Wednesday morning, neither the Defence Ministry nor the Indian Air Force (IAF) has spoken a word about Pakistan's claims of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighters entering Indian air space and shooting down an IAF aircraft and capturing an Indian pilot.
Pakistan immediately stops its domestic and international flight operationsPakistan immediately stops its domestic and international flight operations from Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Islamabad airports.
Sole purpose of this action was to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence: Pakistan's MoFA spokesperson Mohammad FaisalMohammad Faisal, Pakistan's MoFA spokesperson: 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. pic.twitter.com/hSVlgYVsyX
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019
Parachute seen as Pakistan Air Force's F-16 was going down, condition of the pilot is unknown https://t.co/yfcHxDjlXn
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019