By Muhammad Luqman and Asim Tanveer
Pakistan said its quick response forced four Indian Rafale fighter jets patrolling over the Indian-administered part of Kashmir to retreat in an overnight incident, amid escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals over last week’s killing of 26 Indian tourists in the troubled region.
Pakistani and Indian forces also engaged each other on the Line of Control that divides the mountainous Kashmir region, with Pakistani military saying it returned Indian fire early Wednesday.
Security officials told Pakistani state media that Pakistan Air Force used its combat aircraft to secure the airspace over Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir, known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
There has been no word from the Indian government over the reported incident in the Himalayan region, claimed by both countries and partly governed by them. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave operational freedom to military for any action over the April 22 massacres in Pahalgam area of Indian-administered part of Kashmir.
Pakistani sources did not specify which planes they scrambled during the overnight situation but its air force has both American F-16 fighter jets and JF-17 Thunder war planes, it makes in partnership with China.
Indian air power includes French Rafale and MIG 21 jets.
Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television reported that the Indian jets were conducting patrols along the Line of Control that divides the disputed territory between Pakistan and India.
According to security officials Pakistan Air Force acted promptly after detecting the presence of Indian Air Force warplanes near the Line of Control on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Islamabad says “credible intelligence” indicates that that India is planning to conduct a military action against Pakistan in the “next 24 to 36 hours”.
The spiraling South Asian situation has alarmed the international community and both the United States and China have urged restraint, and de-escalate.
Washington is reaching out to the two South Asian neighbors with a call to find a responsible solution to the crisis.
The State Department said Tuesday, a week into April 22 attack on Pahalgam area in the Indian-administered Kashmir, that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would soon speak to Pakistani and Indian diplomats and is also other foreign ministers to reach out the two U.S. partners as part of effort to stop further exacerbation in tensions.
New Delhi was quick to allege that militants who gunned down tourists had a Pakistani link but has so far provided no evidence to back up its claim.
India and Pakistan took retaliatory measures with India renouncing a key water sharing treaty that governs distribution of Kashmir river outflows to agrarian lands on both sides. Islamabad closed its airspace to Indian flights.
On Tuesday, Pakistani officials said the country’s forces shot down an Indian spy drone Quadcopter on its side of Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned against catastrophic consequences of any conflict between Pakistan and India in the heavily militarized region.
UN Chief Antonio Guterres has also offered to facilitate both countries toward ratcheting down their tensions.
