IAF strike on Jaish camp in Pakistan updates: IAF pilot who engaged Pakistan jets missing in action, said the government. India verifying Pak claims on his custody. Follow live updates here:
- 4:55 pm IST
Army’s Eastern Command chief visits Panagarh base in West Bengal amid escalating tensions
- 4:50 pm IST
“Whole country is proud of this brave son,” Arvind Kejriwal tweets for IAF pilot’s safe return
- 4:35 pm IST
Pakistan has long denied its role in terror acts in India
- 4:33 pm IST
Imran Khan’s fresh call for dialogue comes in the wake of Pulwama terror attack
- 4:26 pm IST
Imran Khan calls for talks to de-escalate rising tensions with India over Kashmir
- 3:57 pm IST
Better sense should prevail: Imran Khan after Pak strike
- 3:25 pm IST
IAF pilot who engaged Pak jets missing in action: Govt
- 3:20 pm IST
Foreign ministry and Air Vice Marshal brief media
- 3:00 pm IST
Maharashtra on high alert amid border tensions
- 2:45 pm IST
Pakistan closes its airspace for commercial flights
- 2:35 pm IST
Air India avoiding route of Pakistan air space with immediate effect
- 1:25 pm IST
Pakistan says 2 IAF jets shot down, India rejects claim
- 1:20 pm IST
Army, BSF troops along IB, LoC on highest degree of alertness: Officials
- 1:14 pm IST
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs DAC meeting
- 1:08 am IST
China reiterates call for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint
- 1:00 pm IST
PM Modi rushes to review security situation: Report
- 12:53 pm IST
Pakistan stops domestic, international flight operations from Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Islamabad
- 12:30 pm IST
Sensex turns negative; cracks over 200 points
- 12:08 pm IST
Rajnath reviews security situation
- 12:01 pm IST
‘Don’t want to escalate tensions, but we are prepared’, says Pakistan
- 11:50 am IST
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrives at Home Ministry
- 11:45 am IST
Hope India, Pak conduct dialogue to establish facts through investigation: Wang Yi
- 11:42 am IST
Russia, China and India reaffirmed strong opposition to terrorism: Wang Yi
- 11:37 am IST
Pakistani jets violate Indian air space in Nowshera
- 10:55 am IST
Discussed establishment of UN led global counter-terrorism mechanism: Swaraj
- 10:42 am IST
All countries need to show ‘zero tolerance’ towards terrorism: Sushma Swaraj
- 10:10 am IST
India’s response to Pulwama attack top agenda of Opposition meet
- 9:55 am IST
Defence minister to meet Army, IAF, Navy chiefs shortly
- 9:35 am IST
Mumbai on high alert, govt asks schools to exercise caution
- 9:22 am IST
2 Jaish terrorists killed
- 9:20 am IST
Villagers being shifted to safer places
- 9:05 am IST
Balakot camp blown up by IAF was Jaish’s preferred training spot for 18 yrs
- 8:58 am IST
Underscore priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action: Mike Pompeo to Pak foreign minister
- 8:50 am IST
Objective was to act against terrorist infrastructure: Sushma Swaraj in China
- 8:45 am IST
Target selected to avoid civilian casualties: Sushma Swaraj
- 8:43 am IST
Pakistan outrightly denied any knowledge of Pulwama attack: Sushma Swaraj
- 8:40 am IST
Did the US know of India’s strike on Balakot? And how much?
- 8:37 am IST
Only 7 people knew of timing of air strike
- 8:31 am IST
Exercise ‘maximum restraint’: UN chief to India, Pakistan
- 8:27 am IST
Pak must take ‘action’ against terror groups: US after IAF strikes
- 8:25 am IST
Encounter underway between militants, security forces in J-K’s Shopian
Pakistani aircraft violated Indian air space in the Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Wednesday morning. The Indian Air Force scrambled jets and pushed them back. News agency ANI has reported that a Pakistan Air Force F-16 was shot down in Indian retaliatory fire in Nowshera’s Lam valley.
The Pakistani jets had entered into Indian air space over Rajouri district this morning, sources said.
The air space violation by Pakistani jets comes a day after Indian Air Force jets flew across the Line of Control to blow up Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest terror camp.
Watch| India lost one MiG 21, pilot who engaged Pak jets ‘missing in action’: Govt
Follow live updates here:
Army’s Eastern Command chief visits Panagarh base in West Bengal amid escalating tensions
Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Army’s Eastern Command chief Lt General Manoj Naravane visited Panagarh base in West Bengal on Wednesday and reviewed operational preparedness, a defence official said.
Lt Gen Naravane, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, emphasised the need for remaining alert at all times to meet the emerging security challenges, the official said.
“Whole country is proud of this brave son,” Arvind Kejriwal tweets for IAF pilot’s safe return
“I pray for the safety of Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan,” tweeted Arvind Kejriwal. “Whole country is proud of this brave son and everyone is hoping for his safe return. We all stand united to keep our country safe and strong,” Arvind Kejriwal said in the tweet.
Pakistan has long denied its role in terror acts in India
In his last televised statement, Imran Khan appeared to ignore the claims made by Jaish. Pakistan has long denied its role in terror acts in India, which has handed it over several dossiers containing evidence of involvement of terror groups working from its soil.
Imran Khan’s fresh call for dialogue comes in the wake of Pulwama terror attack
Imran Khan’s fresh call for dialogue comes in the wake of India’s effort to corner Pakistan among international community in the wake of Pulwama terror attack, in which at least 40 soldiers were killed. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack.
Imran Khan calls for talks to de-escalate rising tensions with India over Kashmir
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan calls for talks to de-escalate rising tensions with India over Kashmir.
Better sense should prevail: Imran Khan after Pak strike
“We offered that we are ready for any kind of investigation after Pulwama attack in India. We didn’t take action on Tuesday morning because we weren’t aware of the damage caused by air strike by India. We did not want to cause much collateral damage in India when there was not much damage on our side. The only motive of Pakistan’s strike today was to demonstrate that we have the capability to hit back.
All the wars have happened due to miscalculation. With all the weapons that Pakistan and India have, can we afford to miscalculate. If we take to war neither I nor Mr Narendra Modi would be in a position to control its course. This is why I suggest that better sense should prevail,” said Imran Khan.
IAF pilot who engaged Pak jets missing in action: Govt
IAF pilot who engaged Pakistan jets missing in action, said the government. India verifying Pak claims on his custody.
Pakistan used air force to target military installations, attempt foiled successfully, the government added.
Foreign ministry and Air Vice Marshal brief media
Foreign ministry and Air Vice Marshal briefed the media.
Maharashtra on high alert amid border tensions
Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai have been put on high alert’ in the wake of the rising tensions on the country’s north-west border, official sources said in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Heightened security was seen in Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country. Police vigil has been enhanced in Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik and Kolhapur as well. The government is ensuring there is no disturbance to the ongoing HSC (Class XII) examinations in the state, reported news agency IANS.
Pakistan closes its airspace for commercial flights
Pakistan has closed its airspace for commercial flights, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on Wednesday amid escalating tensions with India.
The aviation authority made the announcement on Twitter after Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director General of the Pakistan Army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), acknowledged the closure of Pakistan’s airspace due to the security situation, Dawn News reported.
Air India avoiding route of Pakistan air space with immediate effect
Air India avoiding route of Pakistan air space with immediate effect. India use Pakistan airspace for flights to Gulf countries, Europe and USA, said an Air India official
Pakistan says 2 IAF jets shot down, India rejects claim
There are no reports of any IAF jet suffering damage in action by India’s adversaries, defence sources said on Wednesday according to news agency PTI.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan claimed it shot down two Indian military aircraft over Pakistani air space and arrested at least one of the pilots, according to PTI.
Army, BSF troops along IB, LoC on highest degree of alertness: Officials
The Army and BSF have been put on the highest degree of alertness along the border in Jammu after air space violations by the neighbouring country and the night-long heavy firing and shelling by Pakistani troops on forward and civilians areas across the LoC which stopped on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.
Authorities have ordered temporary closure of educational institutions in a 5-km radius along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts on Wednesday amid mounting tensions between the two countries, following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 and an Indian air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed camp inside Pakistan on Tuesday.
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs DAC meeting
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman met here today and accorded approval for acquisition of defence equipment for about Rs 2700 crores.
Approval was granted for procurement of three Cadet Training ships for the Indian Navy, which would be utilised to provide basic sea training for officer cadets including women officer undertrainees. The ships would be capable of undertaking Hospital Ship duties, providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, undertaking Search and Rescue (SAR) missions and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations.
China reiterates call for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint
China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said it reiterated its call for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint.
Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the comment at a regular news briefing in Beijing.
PM Modi rushes to review security situation: Report
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his address at a function in Vigyan Bhawan on Wednesday and rushed to attend a meeting to review the security situation arising out of Pakistan’s attempt to violate Indian air space, reported news agency ANI.
Modi was replying to the questions from youngsters during the National Youth Festival 2019 when he was handed over a small piece of paper by an official of Prime Minister Office (PMO).
The Prime Minister immediately stopped and walked towards the panelist where Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore was also present.
Pakistan stops domestic, international flight operations from Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Islamabad
Pakistan immediately stops its domestic and international flight operations from Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Islamabad airports, reported news agency ANI.
Sensex turns negative; cracks over 200 points
The benchmark BSE Sensex gave up all early gains and fell over 200 points in afternoon trade Wednesday on widespread selling after Pakistani fighter jets violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir.
After dropping 238 points, the Sensex was trading 161.74 points, or 0.46 per cent, down at 35,811.97 after hitting a low of 35,735.33. The gauge rallied nearly 400 points in morning trade.
The 50-share Nifty also fell 62.55 points, or 0.58 per cent, to 10,772.75.
According to brokers, investor sentiment took a beating after Pakistan claimed that it shot down two Indian military aircraft over Pakistani air space and arrested one of the pilots.
The Pakistani fighter jets on Wednesday violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Nowshera sectors.
Rajnath reviews security situation
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday reviewed the security situation in the country, especially along the border with Pakistan, a day after Indian fighter jets bombed the biggest camp of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad in that country, officials said.
During the meeting, attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval among others, a detailed presentation was given about the security situation in the country and steps taken to ensure peace in all sensitive places.
Singh directed the officials to ensure the Border Security Force, which guards the India-Pakistan border continues to remain on highest level of alertness so that any misadventure from across the border could be foiled, a home ministry official said.
‘Don’t want to escalate tensions, but we are prepared’, says Pakistan
“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 a statement released by Pakistan on Wednesday.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrives at Home Ministry
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrived at the Home Ministry in Delhi.
Hope India, Pak conduct dialogue to establish facts through investigation: Wang Yi
“As a mutual friend to both India and Pakistan, we hope that they can conduct dialogue to establish facts through investigation to keep things under control and maintain peace and stability in the region. In this process China is playing a constructive role not the opposite,” said China’s foreign minister Wang Yi.
Russia, China and India reaffirmed strong opposition to terrorism: Wang Yi
“Russia, China and India reaffirmed strong opposition to terrorism. At the same time we (China) believe Pakistan has always been opposed to terrorism. China appreciates statements from Indian and Pak friends saying they’ll exercise restraint and avoid escalation of situation,” said China’s foreign minister Wang Yi.
Pakistani jets violate Indian air space in Nowshera
Pakistani jets violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera sector but were successfully confronted.
An official said the jets were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol.
Discussed establishment of UN led global counter-terrorism mechanism: Swaraj
“We need a global strategy, global cooperation. I’m happy to tell you today we discussed the establishment of UN led global counter-terrorism mechanism and finalising CCIT (Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism) proposed by India to implement it,” said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in Wuzhen, China.
“As far as Pulwama is concerned, I had raised this issue in the bilateral meeting with Mr Wang Yi and also at RIC (Russia-India-China) forum,” she added.
All countries need to show ‘zero tolerance’ towards terrorism: Sushma Swaraj
Terrorists attacks like Pulwama are a grim reminder for the need of all countries to show ‘zero tolerance’ towards terrorism, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday, a day after India conducted pre-emptive air strikes deep inside Pakistan hitting Jaish-e-Mohammad training camps.
The operation was carried out in light of Pakistan’s refusal to acknowledge and act against terror groups operating from its soil and credible information that JeM was planning attacks in India, she said.
India’s response to Pulwama attack top agenda of Opposition meet
Left parties will participate in the meeting of the opposition parties, scheduled to be held later today. They had earlier said that they will not participate in the meeting. Pulwama attack and India’s response to it are on the agenda of discussion, reported news agency ANI.
Defence minister to meet Army, IAF, Navy chiefs shortly
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will attend DAC (Defence Acquisition Council) meeting shortly today.
Mumbai on high alert, govt asks schools to exercise caution
In the wake of air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot, the Maharashtra government has called for office bearers of the School & Co. Bus Owner’s Association to ensure the safety of school children keeping the prevailing situation in mind, reported news agency ANI.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state legislature that security has been tightened across the city and appealed to people not to panic.
After intelligence informed Mumbai police to be on high alert, the vigilance and CCTV surveillance has been increased in places like the airport, railway stations, and other key locations.
2 Jaish terrorists killed
At least two Jaish terrorists were killed in an encounter that broke out with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Villagers being shifted to safer places
After cross LoC shelling and ceasefire violations , the villagers in some areas of Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri are being shifted to safer places according to officials.
Balakot camp blown up by IAF was Jaish’s preferred training spot for 18 yrs
Balakot’s Jaba Top first emerged as a preferred training ground for militants in the time of President Zia-ul-Haq. It was an ideal place for a camp for non-state actors — remote, located near a small town, yet far enough from it, on a wooded hilltop, and on Pakistani territory in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. India crossed into Pakistan’s territory in 1971 (and then again, its aircraft on Tuesday), and so the Pakistanis may have thought it was a good place to host a training camp for militants whom the rest of the world called terrorists.
Underscore priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action: Mike Pompeo to Pak foreign minister
“I spoke to Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to underscore the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil,” said US Secy of State Mike Pompeo, according to news agency ANI.
Objective was to act against terrorist infrastructure: Sushma Swaraj in China
“It wasn’t a military op, no military installation targeted. Objective was to act against terrorist infrastructure of JeM to preempt another terror attack in India. India doesn’t wish to see further escalation of situation. It’ll continue to act with responsibility and restraint,” said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at the 16th Foreign Ministers meeting of Russia-India-China (RIC) in Wuzhen, China.
Target selected to avoid civilian casualties: Sushma Swaraj
“In the light of continuing refusal of Pak to acknowledge and act against terror groups on its territory and based on credible info that JeM was planning other attacks in parts of India, GoI decided to take preemptive action and target was selected in order to avoid civilian casualties,” said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at the 16th foreign ministers meeting of Russia-India-China (RIC) in Wuzhen, China, reported news agency ANI.
Pakistan outrightly denied any knowledge of Pulwama attack: Sushma Swaraj
“Such dastardly terrorist attacks are a grim reminder for the need of all the countries to show zero tolerance to terrorism and take decisive action against it.
Following the Pulwama terrorist attack instead of taking seriously the calls by international community to act against Jaish-e-Mohammed and other terror groups based in Pakistan, it denied any knowledge of the attack and outrightly dismissed claims by Jaish-e-Mohammed,” said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at the 16th foreign ministers meeting of Russia-India-China (RIC) in Wuzhen, China, reported news agency ANI.
Did the US know of India’s strike on Balakot? And how much?
Asked about India’s right to self-defence, President Donald Trump told reporters last week, “India is looking at something very strong. And, I mean, India just lost almost 50 people and… with an attack, so I can understand that also.”
And his national security adviser John Bolton had on his own told reporters at a briefing that he had conveyed to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in a phone call “that we support India’s right to self-defence”.
Only 7 people knew of timing of air strike
On February 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the strike. According to intelligence officials, only seven people knew of this decision – Modi, Doval, the three service chiefs, and the heads of RAW and Intelligence Bureau.
Starting February 22, the Air Force started flying night sorties from various frontline bases to confuse the Pakistanis. On February 25, intelligence inputs suggested the presence of a large number of JeM terrorists, around 300-350, at the Balakot camp. The same evening it was decided to go ahead with the strike immediately. Modi knew by late evening that an attack could happen in the next few hours.
Exercise ‘maximum restraint’: UN chief to India, Pakistan
UN chief Antonio Guterres is following the situation between India and Pakistan “very closely” and has appealed to the governments of both nations to exercise “maximum restraint” to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further, a top UN official said Tuesday.
The UN Secretary General’s remarks came after Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a pre-dawn air strike on a terror training camp inside Pakistan.
Pak must take ‘action’ against terror groups: US after IAF strikes
Pakistan must take ‘meaningful action’ against terror groups, says US after IAF strikes on Jaish camp, reported news agency PTI
Encounter underway between militants, security forces in J-K’s Shopian
An encounter broke out on Wednesday between militants and security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Meemendar area of Shopian following information about presence of militants there, the officials said.
They said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened firing towards the security forces, who retaliated.
Source: Hindustan Times
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