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Pakistan Fighter Jets Violate Indian Airspace in Poonch and Rajouri Sectors

MEA Statement

Statement issued by Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raavesh Kumar –

“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.”

Updated 16:02 IST




India confirms shooting down Pakistan fighter jet

India confirms that they shot down a Pakistan fighter jet in the escalations this morning, however in the process India lost one MiG 21 Bison and one pilot was missing from action since then.

Pakistan claims to have captured the missing pilot.

India are still to establish identity of the pilot captured by Pakistan.



MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar – “One Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by Indian Air Force. In this engagement we have lost one MiG 21. Pilot is lost in action. Pakistan claims he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts.”

Updated 15:35 IST

Airports to resume operations in North India

The NOTAM (Notice to Airmen to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route) has been withdrawn, means that fight operations will resume in most of the airports shut since morning.

Updated 15:10 IST

EAM press briefing at 3:15 pm

External Affairs Ministry to brief media at 3:15pm.

Vijay Gokhale the foreign secretary will most likely brief the media on the escalations since morning, and the claim by Pakistan of IAF fighter pilot in custody .

Updated 14:59 IST

Pakistan denies F-16 shot down

Pakistan says its action was not retaliatory, but a show of strength. It denies using F-16 in the operations, and also denies F-16 being shot down.




Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and top intelligence officials are at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, briefing him on the situation at the border.

Earlier, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh met all paramilitary force chiefs and the security establishment.

Updated 13:48 IST

IAF on highest alert in north and western airports

The Indian Air Force has upgraded the security alert to the highest level.

India have put all fighter bases in the forward airports on the highest alert, pilots are ready to take off within two minutes notice.



Airports in forward locations in north and west India such as Pathankot, Ladakh, Amritsar, Srinagar and Jammu, are being shut down for civilian traffic.

Meanwhile Pakistan as well have suspended operations in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Islamabad.

Updated 12:57 IST

Pakistan F-16 that violated Indian Air Space shot down

Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 that violated Indian air space shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3KM within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector.

Parachute seen as Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 was going down, condition of the pilot is still unknown.




(source ANI)

Updated 12:24 IST

Pakistan drop bombs near Indian Army posts in Rajouri

Pakistan Air Force jets that violated Indian airspace in Rajouri sector, dropped bombs near Indian army force. No casualties reported so far.

The National Security Advisor Ajit Doval meets the Home Ministry in New Delhi.

Updated 12:17 IST

Pakistan claims it shot down two Indian aircrafts

Pakistan claims that it shot down two Indian aircraft “inside Pakistani airspace” and that the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control in response to Pakistan Air Force strikes in the morning.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Armed Forces, claimed that one of the aircraft fell in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and that the other fell in Jammu and Kashmir. One Indian pilot was arrested by troops on the ground “while two in the area”, he said.

Updated 12:12 IST

Pakistan foreign ministry statement –

“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. ”

Updated 11:58 IST

Pakistan F 16 Violate Indian Airspace

Pakistani jets have violated Indian air space, entering border areas of Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Rajouri sectors, reported the Press Trust of India.

The Pakistani fighter jets were pushed back by Indian troops on ground and the Indian jets on air patrol.

Remember the Indian military, airforce and navy are under high alert ever since the strikes in Pakistan.

Airports in Pathankot, Ladakh, Jammu and Srinagar are on high alert. Commercial flight operations in these air spaces have been temporarily halted.

Updated 11:44 IST