IAF air strike in Pakistan Live Updates: Pakistan says 2 IAF jets shot down, India rejects claim

Pakistan has said its air force shot down two Indian fighter jets on Wednesday morning and claims to have captured two Indian Air Force pilots. Pakistan’s military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said one of the pilots is in hospital.

Entire air space north of Delhi vacated

The Pakistan Army has also released a video that shows a blindfolded man claiming that he is an officer of the Indian Air Force.

The Indian defence establishment has not commented on the video. Defence sources had earlier told PTI, “There are no reports of any Indian Air Force jet suffering damage in action by India’s adversaries.”

Early morning on Tuesday, Indian Air Force sources revealed that as many as 12 Mirage 2000 jets took part in an operational task to drop 1,000-kilogram bombs on what were allegedly terrorist launchpads across the Line of Control.

2:05 pm IST

8 airports in north India closed for civilian flights

Eight airports across north India were closed for civilian air traffic amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

An Airport Authority of India notification said no flights were permitted to operate to and from Amritsar, Pathankot, Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Shimla, Kangra, Kullu Manali airports due to “technical reasons”.

Several airlines issued statements about the cancelling operations. “Due to airspace restrictions, flights to and from Amritsar, Srinagar, Chandigarh and Jammu are currently on hold,” Vistara airlines said in a tweet.

1:25 pm IST

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.

1:20 pm IST

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.

1:14 pm IST

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.

1:08 am IST

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.

1:00 pm IST

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.

12:53 pm IST

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.

12:30 pm IST

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.

12:08 pm IST

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.

12:01 pm IST

‘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.

India attacks terror camps in PoK, Pak LIVE: ‘300 terrorists, handlers eliminated; PM Modi monitored strike’

Just two weeks after 40 soldiers were killed in Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir region, India carried out air strikes on terror training camps across the Line of Control on Tuesday. At around 3:30 this early morning, 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force dropped 1,000 kg bombs on terror camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

IAF air strikes across LoC LIVE: India confirms fighter jets destroyed biggest JeM terror camps in Balakot

12.50pm: Hours after India conducted major air strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan has convened a meeting to review the emerging situation, reports Radio Pakistan.

12.45pm: “Every Indian who had the pain and anguish of the martyrdom of our forces is greatly relieved and delighted this morning. Salute to the Air Force for a meticulous operation. Our forces are world class anyway. It is the political will of our PM and team that made all the difference,” says BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav.

12.43pm: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to issue statement on the air strikes conducted by the Indian Air Force in Pakistan soon.

12.39pm: A Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was shot down near the International Border in Kutch district of Gujarat, police said. Debris of the UAV was seen near Nanghatad village in Abdasa taluka of Kutch, they said. On hearing a loud sound around 6 am, villagers went to the spot and found the debris of the UAV, the sources said. Asked if a Pakistani UAV had been shot down by the Indian armed forces, a police official, on condition of anonymity, told PTI, “Such an incident has happened, we are investigating the matter.”

12.19pm: Cricketer Virendra Sehwag says “the boys played really well”.

12.16pm: Sushma Swaraj calls a meeting of all Opposition leaders at Jawahar Bhawan (MEA) to brief them on India’s air strikes at 5PM today.

12.15PM: A ceasefire violation by Pakistani security forces at the international border at Kanachak at Samba, reports Moneycontrol, adding that one Pakistani ranger was killed in retaliatory firing by the Border Security Force.

12.10pm: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi “warns India not to challenge Pakistan”.

11.58am: Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) President welcomes air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force on terror launch pads in Pakistan, and ‘saluted’ the valour of the “heroes.” The country was “proud of its heroes,” he says.

11.51am: Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) President Kamal Hassan Tuesday welcomed air strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force on terror launch pads in Pakistan, and ‘saluted’ the valour of the “heroes.” The country was “proud of its heroes,” he said in a tweet. “Our 12 (apparently fighter jets) return safely home after wreaking havoc on terrorist camps in Pakistan. India is proud of its heroes. I salute their valour,” he said.

11.47am: “We knew something like this would happen, and now we hold the right to retaliate against the air strikes conducted by the Indian Air Force,” says Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

11.46am: Vijay Gokhle says a large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders were eliminated in largest JeM camp in Balakot. “The camp was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, the brother-in-law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar.”

11.35am: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on the Surgical Strike 2.0: “Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country & fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose.”

11.30am: Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rejects the air strikes conducted by the Indian Air Force. “We realise it’s election year, and a desperation across the border. Fact of the matter is, Indian jets were forced to retreat in haste by Pakistan army patrols and dumped fuel, which in their scramble they thought was a bomb.”

11.24am: The Indian jets flew over my hometown in Garhi Habibullah, and released its payload near Batrasi jungle, confirms a Pakistani journalist.

11.18am: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on the Surgical Strike 2.0: “Great job by the Indian Air Force”.

11.13am: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh cancels his Greater Noida visit to assess the overall security situation after the Surgical Strike 2.0.

11.09am: A map of distance between Balakot in Pakistan to Uri, which is the nearest LoC area.

11.03am:7 things India used during the Surgical Strike 2.0.

Mirage 2000 from Gwalior – multirole fighter jet built by Dassault aviation, acquired in 1980s, predecessor to Rafale.
GBU-12 paveway laser guided bomb, an American-built precision guidance bomb kit.
Matra magic close combat missile, a French built missile for possible pak air force response during mission.
Litening pod, a laser designator and targeting pod to acquire targets and guide precision bomb.
Netra airborne early warning jet from Bhatinda — command and control from the air, vectoring the fighters towards targets.
Ilyushin – 78m from Agra – flight refuelling aircraft to refuel jets for longer endurance.
Heron drone from secret airfield conducted real time surveillance along line of control.

10.38am: The entire operation lasted around 20 minutes, which includes take off till return time, say reports. The strikes were conducted at Balakot, a breeding ground of terror activities, which is 24 kilometre northwest of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan.

10.27am: Major General Asif Ghafoor, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), claims Indian aircrafts’ intrusion across LOC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJ&K was 3-4 miles.

10.23am: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday saluted the pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) after it carried out air strikes in Pakistan. “I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made us proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

10.19am: A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security is underway at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

10.08am: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi calls an emergency meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. He had said on Monday that India’s “dream” of isolating Pakistan will never be fulfilled, amidst simmering tensions between the two countries following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers.

10.03am: The Indian Air Force has put on high alert all air defence systems along the international border and LoC to respond to any possible action by Pakistan Air Force, reports ANI.

9.51am: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, reiterates dialogue from the recent Bollywood hit Uri: The Surgical Strike. “This is new India, this will enter your home, and kill you too.”

9.50am: Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi says “helter skelter by Pakistan seems like something big has happened”.

9.40am: Congress President Rahul Gandhi says: “I salute the pilots of the IAF.”

India has confirmed a non-military defensive strike on a major Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot. As per the Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, the target was selected in order to avoid civilian fatalities. He further said that those camps were run by Maulana Yusuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar.

The attack took place on February 26 at 0330 hours, and Gokhale also said that further details were yet to be disclosed.

In an interview, Vijay Gokhale told reporters in a brief declaration “Credible information was received that JeM was attempting other attacks in the country. A pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot”.

However, spokesperson of the Pakistan army, Major General Asif Ghafoor, claimed that the attack had unsuccessful to cause any destruction to Pakistan. Through his Twitter account he said that the Indian side, “facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping.”

In the meantime, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has come across Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. A conference of the Cabinet Committee on Security is also in progress. As per the recent reports, the Indian Air Force has put on all its air defence arrangements along the international border and LoC on high alert to answer to whichever likely act by Pakistan Air Force.

Surgical Strike 2: Imran Khan calls emergency meet in wake of IAF attack on terror camps across LoC

The operation has apparently headed to the “complete destruction” of the terrorist camp in Balakot sector of Pakistan. Reports from the Indian Armed Forces claimed that all the Indian pilots involved in the operation have returned to safety. While, on the other hand 200 to 300 people have allegedly died on the Pakistan side.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters about the operation, “The military has taken this necessary step for the country’s security. It was an act of extreme valour. PM Modi had earlier given the armed forces the freedom to take action. Today, the entire country is with the forces”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePa1g9hgjgM

On February 14, the worst-ever terror attack was held in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district against the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel where 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The incident took place after a suicide bomber knock against an explosive loaded Maruti Eeco into a bus carrying CRPF personnel from Jammu to Srinagar. This attack is considered as the most shocking and dreadful terror strike Jammu and Kashmir has seen in decades.

After the Pulwama terror attack PM Modi has given full freedom to the Armed Forces of India to take the revenge from these terrorist organisation.