“Indian Air Force violated Line of Control. Pakistan Air Force immediately scrambled,” Pakistan Armed Forces spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted
Pakistani soldiers at the Chakothi post, some 52 km from Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. (Photo: AFP)
Pakistan Armed Forces spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed on Tuesday Indian aircraft crossed over from the “Muzafarabad sector” and released payload near Balakot “in haste” after facing “effective response from Pakistan Air Force”.
Ghafoor made the claim in his three tweets posted on Monday morning.
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“Indian Air Force violated Line of Control. Pakistan Air Force immediately scrambled. Indian aircrafts gone back. Details to follow,” Ghafoor’s first tweet read.
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He added soon: “Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage.”
Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019
Balakote, 93 km from Srinagar, is located 28 km south of Poonch into the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In another tweet posted at 8.41 am, Ghafoor shared four photographs and said the payload dropped by “hastily escaping Indian aircrafts” fell in an open area.
Payload of hastily escaping Indian aircrafts fell in open. pic.twitter.com/8drYtNGMsm
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019
There has been no response to Pakistan’s claims yet from the Indian authorities.
Reports, however, claimed that the strike was carried out around 3.30 am by a group of IAF’s Mirage 2000 fighters.
Quoting IAF sources, an ANI report said 1,000 kg bombs were dropped on terror camps across the Line of Control in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad, destroying them completely. JeM control rooms were also reportedly destroyed.
More details are awaited.
The development comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the 14 February suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir in which 44 jawans were killed. Pakistan-based and supported terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack, which is being investigated by the NIA. Soon after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said security forces had been given a free hand to avenge the act.
On Monday, Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa apparently met Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and they deliberated on operational environment including threat and response. Quoting Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, a PTI report said: “Both chiefs expressed satisfaction on readiness, coordination and synergy. Pakistan Armed Forces are fully prepared for a befitting response to any Indian aggression or misadventure.”
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