Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): A timely and swift response by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) forced four Indian Rafale jets patrolling near Line of Control (LoC) to retreat.
According to security sources, on the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). However, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) immediately detected the Indian fighter jets, they said.
They added that Indian jets became flustered and retreated owing to the timely and prompt action by the PAF.
“The Pakistani armed forces remain fully prepared and alert to give a befitting response to any aggression from India,” the security sources said.
A deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in IIOJK, has sharply escalated tensions between South Asia’s two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The attack, which took place on April 22, resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, most of whom were tourists. It stands as one of the most lethal incidents in the region in over two decades.
On April 23, India announced on April 23 the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)—a landmark water-sharing accord mediated by the World Bank in 1960.
Despite enduring multiple wars and diplomatic crises, the treaty has remained a rare symbol of cooperation between the two nations.
In retaliation, Pakistan declared on April 24 its intention to consider suspending the Simla Agreement of 1972, a foundational framework for bilateral relations, and warned of the potential closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft.
While Indian authorities have hinted at possible cross-border involvement in orchestrating the Pahalgam attack, no definitive evidence has been released to support such claims.
Pakistan, for its part, has categorically denied any involvement and has called for an independent international inquiry to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.
On April 26, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, while reiterating Pakistan’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, said that Pakistan as a responsible country is open to participate ‘in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation’ into Pahalgam incident.
However, he expressed regret over the conduct of Pakistan’s eastern neighbour, accusing it of a continued pattern of exploitation and baseless accusations without credible evidence or transparent investigations.
Stressing that while Pakistan prefers peace, this inclination should never be mistaken for weakness, the prime minister made it clear that the nation will never compromise on its dignity or national security.