Pakistan India: Pakistan shoots down Indian aircraft over Kashmir

Pakistani fighter jets on Wednesday violated Indian airspace in
Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Nowshera sectors and dropped bombs.
India confirmed that one Indian Air Force fighter jet was lost
during the aerial skirmish that followed, and the pilot is “missing
in action”

Pakistan said in a statement that it “undertook strikes across
Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace” but that country
has “no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if
forced into that paradigm”. Pakistan said the airstrikes were “not
a retaliation” but “to demonstrate [Pakistan’s] right, will and
capability for self defence”.

The official statement from Pakistan says that non-military
targets were chosen, mirroring India’s language after the
airstrikes on Pakistan’s Balakot. However, India disputed
Pakistan’s claim and said that the airstrikes were targeting
military installations.

While India on Tuesday said it destroyed a Jaish-e-Mohammad
terror camp, Pakistan said there was no damage.

The Pakistani aircraft were pushed back by Indian aircraft on
Wednesday, senior officials said. The Pakistani jets dropped bombs
while returning, they said.

In a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Ministry of External
Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar confirmed that Pakistan had
conducted airstrikes, but said that Pakistan’s attempts were foiled
successfully. Kumar also said that a Pakistani fighter jet was
detected in Indian airspace and the IAF “responded instantly”.

In that “aerial engagement”, Pakistan shot down an Indian
aircraft and the Pakistani aircraft was seen falling on the other
side of the LoC. One Indian MiG 21 Bison, and the pilot is “missing
in action”. Pakistan has said they have the pilot in custody, Kumar
said, but India is still “ascertaining the facts”.

Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor was also present during the
briefing.

Sources told The Wire that Pakistan has not informed India
diplomatically about having the IAF pilot in custody.

In his statement immediately after the MEA briefing, Pakistan
Prime Minister Imran Khan invited India for dialogue. He also
confirmed that two IAFs MIGs were shot down in Pakistan. “I can
tell you now that the pilots are in our custody,” Khan said.

(In reply to Pakistan’s action) Two Indian
MiGs crossed the border in retaliation. They were shot down and in
our custody. Now how do we go from here? We should use our wisdom
now: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

— Devirupa Mitra (@DevirupaM) February
27, 2019^[1]

Pakistan said two IAF aircraft downed

Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistani armed
forces, tweeted that Pakistan had shot down two Indian aircraft in
Pakistani airspace. According to him, one fell in Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir and the pilot was arrested by Pakistani forces. The other
fell in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson
Raveesh Kumar confirmed that one Indian pilot was ‘missing in
action’.

Pakistani media has been circulating a video of one of the
“captured” Indian pilots, identifying him as Wing Commander
Abhinandan. “I am an IAF officer. My service number is 27981,” the
man said in the video. The veracity of the video has not been
ascertained.

Major Ghafoor reiterated his claim about the two Indian aircraft
in a press conference. He said that reports on the plane crash in
Budgam had nothing to do with this border skirmish.

During the press conference, Ghafoor showed a photo of some
“documents” and weapons that he said were taken from the captured
Indian pilots.

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^[2]

Pakistan reportedly dropped four bombs in
J&K

The district collector of Rajouri, Aijaz, told reporters that
the Pakistani jets dropped bombs at four deserted spots near the
Line of Control in Nadian, Laam Jhangar and Kerri in Rajouri
district and Hamirpur area of Bhimber Galli in Poonch. According to
him, a nine-year-old was injured.

Civilian air traffic at Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports has
been suspended. “The civilian air traffic has been suspended
temporarily in view of the emergency,” an official of the Airport
Authority of India told PTI. The entire airspace north of Delhi has
been cleared, and eight airports have been shut indefinitely.

According to Dawn, Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport
has also been closed for commercial flights and is being used for
“military purposes”.

Earlier on Wednesday, an Indian Air Force fighter jet crashed in
Kashmir’s Budgam. The pilot and co-pilot reportedly died in the
crash. The Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force have not yet
issued formal statements on Pakistan’s airstrikes or the crashed
jet.

The Indian and Pakistani armies have been engaged in
cross-border firing since Tuesday evening after Pakistan violated
ceasefire. Four civilians were reported killed in Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir.

Read the full text of Pakistan’s statement
below:

Pakistan strikes back

Today, Pakistan Air Force undertook strikes across Line of
Control from within Pakistani airspace. 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.

Read the full text of India’s statement here:

India had informed about Counter Terrorism (CT) action it took
yesterday against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in
Pakistan based on credible evidence that JeM intended to launch
more attacks. Against this Counter Terrorism Action, Pakistan has
responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military
installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of
readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled
successfully.

The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force
responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air
Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the
Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces
falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we
have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action.
Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are
ascertaining the facts.