India-Pakistan tension soars high as Pak claims shooting down IAF jets, India denies claim
Islamabad/New Delhi, Feb 27 (IBNS): Pakistan on Wednesday claimed it has shot down Indian jets as a retaliation to the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) days after the Pulwama terror attack. India, however, rubbishes the claim, according to media reports.
Pakistan said it shot down two IAF aircraft and arrested an Indian pilot while India defence sources told a news channel that all pilots are accounted for.
In a statement, Pakistan claimed it has struck across the LoC from within Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan Armed Forces spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor, tweeted, "In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts [sic] 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.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019
Reports earlier said an Indian Air Force (IAF) jet crashed in central Kashmir district of Budgam on Wednesday.
The jet had taken off from Technical Airport in Budgam.
'The debris of the aircraft was found about 7 km from the airport in an open field,' the sources said.
India denies claims:
Rejecting Pakistan's claims, India said "all our pilots are accounted for", NDTV reported.
Media report said all airspace in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh, close to border of Pakistan, have been closed.
Pak violates ceasefire:
A day after a surgical strike on a terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad by the Indian Airforce (IAF) inside Pakistan, the hostile neighbour's troops targeted Indian forward positions in Uri sector in north Kashmir on Wednesday, official sources said.
They said Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate firing towards forward Indian posts and civilian areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector in north Kashmir district of Baramulla.
Some of the shells landed in open fields without causing any damage, they added.
Sources said Indian troops also retaliated and the exchange of heavy fire continued. However, the damage suffered from across the border was not immediately known.
Meanwhile, with Pakistani jets reportedly violating Indian air space in Nowshera sector in Jammu region, the Srinagar International Airport was on Wednesday morning closed for commercial flights.
A UNI report said two pilots were killed when an Indian Air Force (IAF) jet crashed in central Kashmir district of Budgam.
Official sources said that the airport was closed due to ongoing Air Force operations at Srinagar airport. “Flights about to land were diverted back to New Delhi,” they said.
Meanwhile, passengers at Srinagar airport, said that announcement was made that the airport has been closed due to ongoing Air Force operations.
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