LIVE! India, Pak summon envoys over ceasefire violations

17:38  India, Pak summon envoys over ceasefire violations :  Pakistan and India summoned their respective envoys over ceasefire violations today. Pakistan summoned India’s Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia over the alleged “ceasefire violations” after New Delhi foiled an attempt by Pakistan Air Force this morning to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir by shooting down an F-16 fighter plane. 

The Director-General South Asia and SAARC Dr Mohammad Faisal told the Indian diplomat to “respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement” and “its forces should respect and maintain peace on the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary,” according to a statement by the Pakistan foreign ministry.

India summoned Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah at South Block. He had been summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs and a strong protest was lodged over Pak Air Force’s attempt to attack Indian military installations. 

Image: Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah 

17:19  Commercial operations resume at Amritsar airport:  Commercial operations at Amritsar airport, which was suspended early in the day, began even as the airports in Chandigarh, Pathankot, Halwara, Adampur and Bathinda remained on high alert in view of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. 

“The arrival and departure of all civil flights from Amritsar international airport, which was suspended earlier, has began,” Guru Ram Dass International Airport Director Manoj Chansoria said. 

However, official sources said the airports in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Halwara, Pathankot, Adampur, Bathinda, Sirsa and Ambala have been put on high alert. Chandigarh airport director Suneel Dutt said commercial operations were on. 

Earlier operations at Chandigarh were halted for sometime. Punjab’s six border districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Amritsar are on high alert since Tuesday in the wake of the Indian Air Force’s strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Pakistan.

Deputy Commissioners and SSPs of border areas have been asked to put in place all contingency plans to ensure protection and safety of citizens, officials said. — PTI 

17:05  Pray for Wing Commander Abhinandan’s safe return: Omar:  Omar Abdullah tweets: Thoughts with the family, friends & colleagues of #WingCommanderAbhinandan. Prayers for his early & safe return home to all those eagerly waiting for him. In the mean time Pakistan please treat him as you would have us treat one of your men in uniform should he be unfortunate enough to be captured on this side of the border. 

16:58  Jaitley says India too capable of operation similar to US action against Osama :  Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday suggested that India is capable of carrying out an operation similar to the 2011 US action in Pakistan to eliminate Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. His remarks at an event related to the campaign to clean River Ganga came a day after the Indian Air Force pounded the main terror camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit in Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. 

Referring to the US operation in Abbotabad, Jaitley said, “It is said that a week is too long a time in politics. In our country the way people get enthusiastic, if you look at the last 24 hours, one week would appear to be a day. “The kind of things we see…. I remember when the US Navy SEAL had taken Osama bin Laden from Abottabad, can’t we do the same?

“We could earlier only imagine, desire and get frustrated and disappointed (for failing to conduct such operations). But today, it is possible,” he said at the event dedicated to generate funds to clean river Ganga. The event was organised by the Ministry of Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation at DRDO. Jaitley contributed Rs 1 lakh in his personal capacity for the programme to clean the river. 

The US’ special forces had raided Osama’s hideaway, a compound in Abbotabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa north of Islamabad, killing the dreaded terrorist. — PTI

16:38  Was MiG pilot Abhinandan ambushed?:  Ajai Shukla @ajaishukla Two Indian pilots in Pak custody. Their MiG-21 was lured by two PAF F-16s into an air def ambush. The F-16s made shallow ingress into Indian airspace, dropped bombs, and waited for IAF MiGs that scrambled. Then F-16s turned back, MiGs followed, were shot down by air defence guns. 

16:28  Imran asks India for dialogue, says better sense must prevail:  

Pakistan PM Imran Khan addresses his country says he had made an offer to India after Pulwama for investigation. “All wars in world history have been miscalculated, those who started the wars did not know where it will end. So, I want to ask India, with the weapons you and we have, can we afford miscalculation? Lets talk, he says.

He says despite Pakistan’s offer to India for a probe, India took action and hence Pakistan had to react. He also mentions that since elections are set to happen in India, some action would be taken by India. 

The Pak PM said that two Indian MiGs were shot down by Pakistan and the pilot’s’ are safe in Pakistan. 

“If a war takes place, it will not be in my or Narendra Modi’s control. If you want any kind of talks on terrorism, we are ready. Better sense must prevail. We should sit down and talk,” Khan said. 

15:47  India confirms: MiG shot down, pilot missing in action:   MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar and Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor address the media in Delhi. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale is not part of the briefing.  

Pakistan has used its Air Force to target military installations in India in response to Indian counter-terrorism operations but their attempts were foiled successfully though one Indian pilot is “missing in action”, External Affairs Ministry said Wednesday. 

In a very brief press statement, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, accompanied by Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor, also said details are being ascertained about Pakistan’s claim of having captured one Indian pilot. 

The statement follows fresh confrontation a day after Indian Air Force launched a counter-terrorism action 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,”Kumar said. 

He said 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,” he said. Both officials did not take any questions from the media. — PTI

15:17  Flights across north India resume:  NOTAM (Notice to Airmen to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route) has been withdrawn. Flight operations will resume. In other words, operations at all nine airports, which were shut for civilian traffic, have resumed as of now, the DGCA said. 

15:08  IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan is yet to return: Sources:  Here’s a confirmation of sorts, the man in Pakistan’s custody is indeed 

IAF’s Wing Commander Abhinandan. News agency ANI quoting sources said, “IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan took off in a MiG 21 Bison jet today, he is yet to return.”  

In a 46-second video released by the Pakistan Army, a blindfolded man with a bloodied face, claimed: “I am  IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan. I am an IAF officer. My service No is 27989.”

Pakistan on Wednesday claimed that it shot down two Indian military aircraft over Pakistani air space and arrested one of the pilots but India said it knows of no such incident. ‘There are no reports of any Indian Air Force jet suffering damage in action by India’s adversaries’, defence sources in the Indian capital said.

Image: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale will brief the media at 3:15 pm today.

14:56  Nine airports in north India shut amid tension with Pak:   Nine airports, including the ones in Srinagar and Jammu, were closed on Wednesday for civilian air traffic amid escalating tension with Pakistan, officials said. 

Airports at Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Pathankot, Amritsar, Shimla, Kangra, Kullu Manali, Pithoragarh were among those closed, they said. The move to close the airports comes amid escalation of tension between India and Pakistan after the IAF carried out strikes on terror bases in Pakistan. In Srinagar, an official of the Airports Authority of India told PTI, “The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency”.

While the official did not specify the nature of the emergency, it is believed the step was taken in view of an IAF jet crashing in Budgam district this morning.

Officials said they received instructions from air traffic controllers that the airports have been shut for civilian flights. Some of the flights en route to Jammu, Leh and Srinagar airports have been diverted to their origin stations, they added. 

Airports at Chandigarh, Pathankot, Halwara are Bathinda have been put on high alert. Guru Ram Dass International Airport Director Manoj Chansoria said the arrival and departure of all civil flights from Amritsar International Airport has been suspended. Commercial operations from Chandigarh international airport are on. Earlier operations at Chandigarh were halted for sometime. — PTI

14:31  Pak releases video of IAF pilot in custody :  
Pakistan on Wednesday claimed that it shot down two Indian military aircraft over Pakistani air space and arrested two pilots. However, there was no official confirmation from the Indian government.

In a 46-second video released by the Pakistan Army, a blindfolded man claiming that he’s IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan. “I am an IAF officer. My service No is 27981,” the man said in the video.

However, the veracity of the video could not be ascertained. ‘There are no reports of any IAF jet suffering damage in action by India’s adversaries’, defence sources said on Wednesday. They added that they were verifying reports that an F16 Pakistani jet had crashed in Lam Valley across the Line of Control. 

Military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed in a tweet that one of the aircraft crashed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir while the other fell in Jammu and Kashmir. “One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area,” he said without elaborating. He said one of the aircraft crashed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir while the other fell in Jammu and Kashmir. — PTI

13:52  Not involved in IAF crash in Budgam, says Pak:  So, here’s a confirmation: DG ISPR, Pakistan, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor says Pakistan has no hand in the Mi-17 IAF chopper crash where one civilian and the pilot were killed. Ghafoor says, “There are reports of crash of an Indian aircraft on the Indian side (in Budgam), we had no engagement with that aircraft.” 

An IAF chopper crashed on Wednesday in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing two people, officials said.  Officials in New Delhi said it was an Mi-17 helicopter. The Srinagar officials said the aircraft broke into two and caught fire immediately. The identity of the two deceased could not be confirmed immediately, they said.

Image: Officials in Srinagar described the downed aircraft as a jet, while officials in New Delhi said it was an Mi-17 helicopter. Pic: Umar Ganie

13:16  France to bring proposal to ban Masood Azhar:  France is working on a proposal to ban chief of the UN-proscribed Jaish-e Muhammad Masood Azhar and could move it in the Sanctions Committee after it assumes the Presidency of the powerful UN Security Council in March, sources said. 

The rotating monthly Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council  will go from Equatorial Guinea to France on March 1. France, a permanent member of the Council with veto powers, is working on the proposal (to ban Azhar) and it should be ready soon, informed sources told PTI, adding that the proposal against the JeM chief could perhaps be moved in the Sanctions Committee under the French presidency. 

“France is focussed on bringing individual listing requests of JeM terrorists to the 1267 Sanctions Committee soon,” they said. The Pakistan-based JeM claimed the responsibility of the heinous suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14 in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed, sparking outrage in India. 
— PTI

13:07  No reports of any IAF jet damaged: Defence sources:  There are no reports of any IAF jet suffering damage in action by India’s adversaries, defence sources said on Wednesday. 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. 

Military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor claimed in a tweet that one of the aircraft crashed in Pakistan occupied Kashmir while the other fell in Jammu and Kashmir. “One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area,” he said without elaborating. PTI 

13:05  ‘Missions like this need complete surprise’:  “In the IAF, pilots are the ones who will go across into enemy territory. They go deep inside, fight their way in and fight their way out. They need very high degree of training, confidence, self belief, risk taking ability and courage. But a whole amount of infrastructure backs them up, you can’t do without it,” a retired Mirage 2000 pilot tells Rediff.com’s Archana Masih.

12:46  Rajnath holds high-level security meeting :  Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is holding a high-level meeting at North block; NSA, RAW chief, Home Secretary and other officials present at the meeting.

12:40  India shoots down Pak F16 in Pak territory: Reports:  
India says Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 that violated Indian air space was shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3 km within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector, reports news agency ANI. A parachute seen as Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 was going down, condition of the pilot is unknown. 

To bring you up to speed, Pakistani fighter jets on Wednesday violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Nowshera sectors but were pushed back by Indian aircraft, senior officials said. 

The Pakistani jets dropped bombs while returning, officials said. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. 

“The jets entered Indian air space over Nowshera and Poonch sectors this morning,” officials said.  

Pakistan said that its jets crossed the Line of Control to undertake strikes in India for “self defence”. Pakistan Foreign Office said in a 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,” it said.

12:26  Five airports closed for civilian flights: officials:  Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were among five airports closed on Wednesday for civilian air traffic shortly after an IAF jet crashed in Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said. The move to close the five airports comes amid escalation of tension between India and Pakistan after IAF carried out strikes on terror bases in Pakistan. 

Airports at Chandigarh and Amritsar were among those closed, according to airline officials. In Srinagar, an official of the Airports Authority of India told PTI, “The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency”.

While the official did not specify the nature of the emergency, it is believed the step was taken in view of an IAF jet crashing in Budgam district this morning.

Officials said they received instructions from air traffic controllers that the airports have been shut for civilian flights. Some of the flights en route to Jammu, Leh and Srinagar airports have been diverted to their origin stations, they added. 

The flare up in the cross-LoC shelling, which was initiated by Pakistani troops in early hours of Wednesday, has also resulted in security forces and other establishments being put on a heightened alert. — PTI

12:23  Don’t wish to escalate but prepared to if forced: Pak :  Dr Mohammad Faisal, spokesperson of the Pak foreign office on the Pak fighter jet incursions in Indian air space: PAF (Pakistan Air Force) undertook strikes across LoC from Pakistani airspace. Sole purpose of this action was to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence. We do not wish to escalate but are fully prepared if forced into that paradigm #PakistanZindabad.”

12:19  Two bodies found in IAF chopper crash:  SSP Budgam on military aircraft crash in J&Ks Budgam says, “As of now we aren’t in a position to ascertain anything. Technical team is here, they’ll ascertain facts. We have found 2 bodies so far and have evacuated them. Search is going on here.”

12:17  M-17 chopper crash in Budgam:  Update on the IAF plane crash in Budgam: An IAF Mi-17 transport chopper crashed on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam, officials said. 

The crash comes a day after India carried out air strikes at a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

11:58  Pak claims it shot down 2 Indian aircraft inside Pak airspace:  Spokesperson Pakistan Armed Forces, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweets, “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. 

Image: Pictures of craters formed from Pakistani bombs dropped near the Indian Army post in Rajouri sector. Pic courtesy: Army sources

11:43  Srinagar, Jammu, Leh airports closed for civilian air traffic:  Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were Wednesday closed for civilian air traffic shortly after an IAF jet crashed in Budgam district and amid escalation of cross-Line of Control shelling between armies of India and Pakistan. 

“The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency,” an official of the Airport Authority of India told PTI. While the official did not specify the nature of the emergency, it is believed the step was taken in view of an IAF jet crashing in Budgam district this morning.

Jammu and Leh airports have also been closed for civilian traffic. The flare up in the cross-LoC shelling, which was initiated by Pakistani troops in early hours of Wednesday has also resulted in security forces and other establishments being put on a heightened alert.  — PTI

11:41  Pak fighter jets violate Indian air space in J-K, drop bombs:  
Three Pakistani fighter planes violate Indian air space in J-K’s Poonch and Rajouri sectors and drop bombs on the way out, say officials. The Pakistani jets entered Nowshera in Rajouri district but were pushed back by Indian fighter jets, a top official said. “The jets entered into Indian air space over Nowshera sector this morning,” the official said. They were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol. 

All commercial flights have been halted from the Srinagar, Leh, Pathankot airports. Indian air force jets on standby to meet any eventuality. 

Important industrial locations, especially those in states bordering Pakistan, are preparing against any war-like emergency. All the airports are being put on ‘level two’ security alerts.

Reliance Industries’s Jamnagar refinery, the HPCL-Mittal refinery in Bhatinda, Nayara Energy’s Vadinar facility, Indian Oil’s Panipat, Mathura and Koyali refineries are in states sharing their border with Pakistan.”

11:01  All countries need to show ‘zero tolerance’ towards terrorism: Sushma :  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 JeMwas planning attacks in India, she said.

Swaraj said that India does not wish to see a further escalation of the situation and will continue to act with responsibility and restraint.

She was addressing the 16th Foreign Ministers meeting of Russia-India-China (RIC) in Wuzhen. The conclave is being attended Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Noting that JeM carried out the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF men were killed and several others injured, Swaraj said, “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.”

She said, “In the light of continuing refusal by Pakistan to acknowledge and act against terror groups based on its territory, and based on credible information that JeM is planning other attacks in various parts of India, the government of India decided to take pre-emptive action.” — ANI

Image: External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj at Wuzhen 

10:46  Pakistan violates ceasefire in in Uri :  Pakistan on Wednesday violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Uri sector in Baramulla district, officials said. The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively to the cross border firing. More details of the incident are awaited.

Pakistan ceasefire violations have been reported in a number of places along the LoC after the ghastly Pulwama attack orchestrated by Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed on a CRPF convoy on February 14.

Two JeM terrorists were gunned down by security forces on Wednesday during an encounter in Memander area of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Pakistan on Tuesday violated ceasefire as they resorted to heavy shelling at around 12 to 15 places along the Line of Control (LoC), leaving five Indian Army personnel injured.

The shelling began hours after the Indian Air Force carried out multiple air strikes, targetting terror launch pads in Pakistan’s Balakot and eliminating a large number of terrorists, including top commanders of the terror group which attacked the CRPF convoy in Pulwama.

As per the Indian Army, retaliatory firing resulted in severe destruction and a number of casualties to Pakistan Army personnel.

Pakistani troops were seen firing mortars and missiles from civilian houses, using villagers as human shields. However, the Indian Army targeted Pakistani posts away from civilian localities, the Army said.

Among the five Army soldiers who suffered injuries, two of them were evacuated to Military Hospital for medical treatment. Their condition is said to be stable. — ANI 

10:36  What will Pakistan’s response be?:  “Having spent four years in Pakistan and been able to assess the thought process of their military up close, I am of the opinion that a reprisal is inevitable. The Pak military lives in a high ego, make believe world (even believing a nuclear war is fightable!) and I know they WILL respond soon enough,” says Group Captain Murli Menon (retd). Read the column here. 

Image: Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the Line of Control, February 22, 2019. Photograph: www.ispr.gov.pk

10:14  Day after air strike, Jaish terrorists killed in encounter in Shopian :  Two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were gunned down by security forces on Wednesday during an encounter in the Memander area of Shopain district in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The encounter, which broke out between the security forces and terrorists in the early hours of Wednesday in Sophian, has ended and security forces have begun the combing operations in the area.

The encounter comes a day after India carried out air strikes at a Jaish-e-Mohammad camp in Balakot in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on Tuesday said Indian Air Force has eliminated a large number of terrorists, including top commanders, during multiple air strikes in the terror launch pads.

The terror camp in a thick forest area atop a hill was led by Ustad Gauri, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Gokhale said, making a statement before the media, hours after the air strikes using Mirage 2000 were carried out.

In retaliation, Pakistan reportedly violated ceasefire in a number of places along the LoC. Heavy shelling was also reported in the region.

On February 24, the three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were killed in an encounter in Kulgam, said the Jammu and Kashmir Police. — ANI

Image: Pakistan violated ceasefire in a number of places along the LoC. Heavy shelling was also reported in the region. Pic: ANI

09:28  In China, Sushma justifies air strike, says Pak refused to act:  

India does not wish to see further escalation of the situation and will continue to act with responsibility and restraint, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told China and Russia in Wuzhen on Wednesday after the country targeted terrorist training camp in Pakistan as she asked all nations to show “zero tolerance to terrorism”.

Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan for the February 14 Pulwama terror attack at the Russia, India and China meeting in Wuzhen, she defended India’s airstrikes on terrorist bases in Pakistan, saying that it was pre-emptive action aimed at stopping further attacks by Jaish-e-Muhammed.

Forty Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in a suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14, sparking outrage in the country.

Following the incident, India on Tuesday bombed and destroyed JeM’s biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control early Tuesday, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders.  

“The recent dastardly terrorist attack on our security forces in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir is perpetrated by Jaish-e-Muhammad, a Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation proscribed by the UN and other countries . We lost more than 40 personnel from CRPF,” Swaraj said.

“Such dastardly terrorist attacks are grim reminder for all the countries to show zero tolerance to terrorism and take decisive action against them,” she said at the meeting attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavarov.

She said after the Pulwama terrorist attack, Pakistan instead of taking seriously the call for the international community to act against the JeM and other terror groups denied any knowledge of the attack and out rightly dismissed claims by the JeM. 

“In the light of continued refusal of Pakistan to acknowledge and act against terror groups on its territory and based on credible information that the JeM is planning other attacks in various parts of India, Government of India has decided to take pre-emptive action,” she said.

“The target was selected in order to avoid civilian casualties,” she said. — PTI

09:16  IAF air strike a tribute to Pulwama martyrs: Bhagwat:  

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said Tuesday the IAF air strike on a terrorist training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group behind the suicide bombing targeting CRPF personnel in Pulwama, inside Pakistan was a tribute to the martyrs of the Feb 14 assault. He recalled legendary freedom fighter Veer Savarkar’s observation that India needs to become powerful because without power, nobody listens.

   

He was speaking at the felicitation programme of computer scientist Vijay Bhatkar, who was given the Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Gaurav Puraskar.

“We, as a nation, have the right to take the name of Veer Savarkar, because today we have paid a very appropriate 13th-day tribute to the 40 CRPF jawans martyred in Pulwama,” he said amid slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’.

He was reacting to the pre-dawn air strike by IAF jets on the biggest terrorist camp of Jaish inside Pakistan. The air strike came 12 days after the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

Bhagwat said the slogan ‘Vande Mataram’ was not hollow but it has a lot of power.

“The entire world has seen this today,” he said.

 

“Savarkar’s character and work have been very magnificent. He dedicated his life for the country. Savarkar said we need to become powerful because without power, nobody listens,” the RSS chief said.

 

“We do not need power to tell the truth. But the world is not like that… They understand only power. Therefore, if we want to show our spirituality, truth and non-violence to the world, then we need to become ‘shastra sampann’ (armed) and ‘shakti sampann’ (powerful),” he said.

“It took us so long to understand this after Independence. This behavioural truth has been very clearly stated by Veer Savarkar,” he said.

 

“If the Hindu community and our country had followed this motto after Independence, then our history would have been very different. Becoming powerful is very important and the Hindu community should be shakti sampann,” he said.

 

“It is a truth that Hindustan is a Hindu Rashtra, but if this truth is to be accepted, the Hindu community should have ‘shakti’. Only after this, nobody in the world will dare to stare down Hindus,” Bhagwat said. — PTI 

09:07  ‘Power supply around 15 Corps Army headquarters in Srinagar switched off’ :  

Power supply of certain areas in the strategically located 15 Corps Cantonment in Srinagar was switched off as a precautionary measure Tuesday night, officials said.

   

Some areas of the cantonment are located on Zaberwan hills and electric supply to this area was stopped in anticipation of a Pakistani retaliation to the pre-dawn strike by IAF jets on the biggest terrorist camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed inside Pakistan, they said.

 

In the meantime, Pakistan has suspended internet services in the entire occupied Kashmir area, security agencies said. — PTI 

08:52  Pak must act against terror, says US after India’s strike on Jaish:  

The United States on Wednesday firmly asked Pakistan to take “meaningful action” against terrorist groups operating on its soil and underscored the importance of avoiding escalation at any cost after India targeted terrorist camp in Pakistan.

Forty Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in a suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14, sparking outrage in the country.

Following the incident, India on Tuesday bombed and destroyed JeM’s biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control early Tuesday, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders.  

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call with the Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also called for avoiding military action. 

In a separate call with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Pompeo emphasised the close security partnership between the US and India and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region. 

Pompeo is currently in Vietnam to attend the second summit between President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the denuclearsation of the Korean peninsula.

“Following Indian counter-terrorism actions on February 26, I spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Swaraj to emphasize our close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region,” Pompeo said in a statement. 

“I also spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister 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,” Pompeo said. 

“I expressed to both Ministers that we encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost. I also encouraged both ministers to prioritise direct communication and avoid further military activity,” said the Secretary of State.   

Last week, US National Security Adviser John Bolton told his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval that America supports India’s right to self-defence as both sides vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceases to be a safe heaven for JeM and other terror groups. — PTI 

08:21  Sushma raises Pulwama terror attack with China:  

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday raised the recent Pulwama suicide attack in her crucial bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here, a day after India destroyed a major Jaish-e-Muhammed terror training camp in Pakistan.

“I am visiting China at a time when there is grief and anger in India. It is the worst terrorist attack directed against our security forces in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said in her opening remarks during the meeting held on the side-lines of Russia, India, China Foreign Ministers meeting.  

“The attack was carried out by Jaish-e-Muhammed, the Pakistan-based and supported terrorist organisation,” she said. 

Forty Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in a suicide attack by Pakistan-based JeM in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14, sparking outrage in the country.

Following the incident, India bombed and destroyed JeM’s biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control early Tuesday, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders. 

Stating that the JeM is banned by the UN and other countries, Swaraj told Wang that “this terrorist attack is the direct result of the impunity and cover provided to the JeM and its leaders by the Pakistani side”.

“After the Pulwama attack the entire UN has spoken with full voice to condemn it,” she said.  

Swaraj who arrived in Wizhen early this morning told Wang that this is their first meeting this year and  therefore an opportune time for the two sides to take stock of the bilateral relations and look ahead for cooperation.

“This is our first meeting this year. Therefore, an opportune time for us to take stock of our bilateral relations and look ahead for cooperation. The India-China relationship is an important relationship for both of our countries,” she said. — PTI 

00:11  Punjab, Gujarat, Himachal on high alert as Pakistan threatens retaliation:  

In the aftermath of the Balakot airstrike conducted by the IAF early on Tuesday morning, the bordering states of Punjab, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have been put on high alert.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his country would respond to what he described as “uncalled-for aggression” and asked his compatriots to prepare for “all eventualities”.

“[The] PM has directed that elements of national power including the Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan to remain prepared [sic] for all eventualities,” said a statement posted by Khan.

Six districts in Punjab – Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka – have been put on high alert.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, “Punjab is on alert and I will be touring bordering areas tomorrow. We are ready for any eventuality. I told the Union home minister that if there is anything that Punjab can do we are there to for the defence of our country.”

The chief minister reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting with the top brass of the police and civil administration and decided to stay in the sensitive border area for onground assessment of the situation.

Apart from Punjab, Gujarat Police has also issued a “high alert” across the state following India’s preemptive strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed’s biggest terror campaigning Pakistan.

Gujarat’s Director General of Police Shivanand Jha cancelled a conference on crime-related issues scheduled at the Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar and asked all officers to return to their respective headquarters in view of the alert sounded in the state.

The Himachal Pradesh Police issued an alert for all districts in the state.

An alert has been issued to all district SPs in Himachal Pradesh to ensure safety of vital installations and also to keep sharp vigil in their respective districts, Himachal Pradesh Police spokesperson and SP (Law and Order) Khushhal Sharma said.