2019 India–Pakistan standoff

Last updated

2019 India–Pakistan standoff
Part of the Indo-Pakistani conflicts and the Kashmir conflict
Kashmir map.svg
Map of the Kashmir region
Date14 February 2019 – present
(1 month and 3 days)
Location
Status Ongoing
Belligerents

Flag of India.svg  India

Jaishi-e-Mohammed.svg Jaish-e-Mohammed

Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan

Casualties and losses
40–46 CRPF killed [1] [2] and 70 wounded [3]
5–10 soldiers wounded [4] [5]
1 pilot captured (released) [6]
1 MiG-21 shot down (Indian claim) [7] [8]
2 fighter jets shot down (Pakistani claim) [9] [10] [11]
Many killed (Indian claim) [12]
None killed (Pakistani claim) [13] [14]
2 soldiers killed [15]
1 F-16 and 3 UAVs shot down (Indian claim) [16] [17] [18]
10–12 Pakistani and 4 Indian civilians killed [19] [20] [21]

India and Pakistan are engaged in an ongoing military confrontation in the disputed Kashmir region and its neighboring provinces; the heightened tensions stem from a suicide car bombing that happened on 14 February 2019.

India–Pakistan relations Often acrimonious bilateral relations in South Asia

Relations between India and Pakistan have been complex and largely hostile due to a number of historical and political events. Relations between the two states have been defined by the violent partition of British India in 1947, the Kashmir conflict and the numerous military conflicts fought between the two nations. Consequently, their relationship has been plagued by hostility and suspicion. Northern India and Pakistan somewhat overlap in areas of certain demographics, shared lingua francas and shared cuisines inherited from the Mughal Empire.

Kashmir conflict conflict

The Kashmir conflict is a territorial conflict primarily between India and Pakistan, having started just after the partition of India in 1947. China has at times played a minor role. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir, including the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1947 and 1965, as well as the Kargil War of 1999. The two countries have also been involved in several skirmishes over control of the Siachen Glacier.

2019 Pulwama attack Terrorist attack

On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The attack resulted in the deaths of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and the attacker. The responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. The attacker was Adil Ahmad Dar, a local from Pulwama district, and a member of Jaish-e-Mohammed. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack. Pakistan condemned the attack and denied any connection to it.

Contents

In the bombing, a militant from Jammu and Kashmir killed 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force members in Pulwama. The Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility, while Pakistan's government condemned the attack and denied any involvement. [22]

Jammu and Kashmir State in India

Jammu and Kashmir is a state in northern India, often denoted by its acronym, J&K. It is located mostly in the Himalayan mountains, and shares borders with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south. The Line of Control separates it from the Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in the west and north respectively, and a Line of Actual Control separates it from the Chinese-administered territory of Aksai Chin in the east. The state has special autonomy under Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

Central Reserve Police Force Indian national police force

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is India's largest Central Armed Police Forces. It functions under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India. It is also known as a paramilitary force. The CRPF's primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter insurgency. It came into existence as the Crown Representative's Police on 27 July 1939. After Indian Independence, it became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28 December 1949.

Pulwama district District in India

Pulwama is a district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. District Pulwama came into being in the year 1979 in the larger interests of maintenance of law and order, closer supervision, more effective control and above all to ensure balanced development of the area. The district is centrally located in the valley of Kashmir and is a resting place for adventure tourists since it has abundant water and hospitable countryside. The district has also been nicknamed the rice bowl of Kashmir for its production of rice. Besides Pulwama is famous all over the world for Saffron cultivation which is mainly grown in the Pampore, Kakapora and Pulwama blocks. Pulwama is often called the 'Anand of Kashmir' or 'Dudha-Kul of Kashmir' on account of its high milk production. The National Highway NH1 that connects Srinagar and Jammu passes through Pulwama.

On 26 February the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes inside Pakistan — for the first time since 1971. India claimed it conducted a preemptive strike against an alleged terrorist training camp and claimed to have killed a "large number" [23] of militants who had plans to conduct terror attacks in India. [12] [24] Local residents [25] and the Pakistani military disputed India's claims about the strike, saying no one was killed nor was infrastructure damaged. [23]

Indian Air Force Air warfare branch of Indias military

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks fourth amongst the airforces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict. It was officially established on 8 October 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the British Empire which honoured India's aviation service during World War II with the prefix Royal. After India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force was kept and served in the name of Dominion of India. With the government's transition to a Republic in 1950, the prefix Royal was removed after only three years.

2019 Balakot airstrike Airstrike conducted by the Indian Air Force

The 2019 Balakot airstrike occurred on 26 February 2019, when twelve Mirage 2000H jets of the Indian Air Force crossed the Line of Control in Kashmir to perform an airstrike on what India says was a terrorist training camp inside Pakistan. The airstrikes were a retaliation for an attack on its paramilitary forces, which took place two weeks prior. The Indian government stated that it was a "preemptive non military air strike based on credible intelligence" that another attack on India was planned by JeM.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Military confrontation between India and Pakistan alongside the Bangladesh Liberation War

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the liberation war in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 to the fall of Dacca (Dhaka) on 16 December 1971. The war began with preemptive aerial strikes on 11 Indian air stations, which led to the commencement of hostilities with Pakistan and Indian entry into the war of independence in East Pakistan on the side of Bengali nationalist forces. Lasting just 13 days, it is one of the shortest wars in history.

Escalating the situation, India and Pakistan exchanged fire across the Line of Control on 26 and 27 February. Ten Indian soldiers were injured [5] while four Pakistani civilians were killed in the shelling. [26] On the latter day, Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Indian-administered Kashmir which caused no casualties or damage. [27]

Line of Control demarcation line between India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir

The term Line of Control (LoC) refers to the military control line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir—a line which does not constitute a legally recognized international boundary, but is the de facto border. Originally known as the Cease-fire Line, it was redesignated as the "Line of Control" following the Simla Agreement, which was signed on 3 July 1972. The part of the former princely state that is under Indian control is known as the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani-controlled part is divided into Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan. The northernmost point of the Line of Control is known as NJ9842. The India–Pakistan border continues from the southernmost point on the LoC.

Also on 27 February, Pakistan claimed that it had captured two pilots after shooting down two Indian jets over Pakistani airspace. India claimed that only one MiG-21 had been lost and demanded the release of the pilot. India also claimed to have shot down a Pakistani F-16, which Pakistan denied. Pakistan later clarified that only one Indian pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured, and he was subsequently released on 1 March. [6]

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 interceptor and air superiority fighter family

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to the shape of its fuselage. It was also nicknamed "Én bạc" by North Vietnamese, now Vietnam People's Air Force, pilots and the Vietnamese people.

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Family of fighter aircraft

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.

Abhinandan Varthaman Officer in the Indian Air Force

Abhinandan Varthaman is a wing-commander in the Indian Air Force. In the 2019 India-Pakistan standoff, he was held for 60 hours under captivity in Pakistan after his aircraft was shot down in an aerial dogfight.

Background

India and Pakistan have long been at odds with each other, having engaged in several wars, conflicts, and military standoffs. The roots of the continued tension are complex, but have centered mainly around the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After the 1947 Partition of India, the newly-formed independent states of Pakistan and India squabbled over it, which led to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 and a subsequent sharing of the state. The settlement was non-agreeable to both the parties and since then, this had become an ongoing intractable issue leading to a war in 1965. The nations also partook in another war in 1971 which led to the formation of Bangladesh. Both countries developed nuclear weapons in the 1990s and this had a sobering effect on the next major conflict the 1999 Kargil War. [28]

Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) Former princely state

Jammu and Kashmir was, from 1846 until 1952, a princely state of the British Empire in India and ruled by a Jamwal Rajput Dogra Dynasty. The state was created in 1846 from the territories previously under Sikh Empire after the First Anglo-Sikh War. The East India Company annexed the Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Ladakh, and Gilgit-Baltistan from the Sikhs, and then transferred it to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu in return for an indemnity payment of 7,500,000 Nanakshahee Rupees.

Partition of India partition of British India into the independent states of India and Pakistan in 1947

The partition of India in 1947 eventually accompanied the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan. The Dominion of India became the Republic of India in 1950, and in 1957 the Dominion of Pakistan became the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In 1971, the People's Republic of Bangladesh came into being after the Bangladesh Liberation War. The partition involved the division of three provinces, Assam, Bengal and Punjab, based on district-wide Hindu or Muslim majorities. The boundary demarcating India and Pakistan came to be known as the Radcliffe Line. It also involved the division of the British Indian Army, the Royal Indian Navy, the Indian Civil Service, the railways, and the central treasury, between the two new dominions. The partition was set forth in the Indian Independence Act 1947 and resulted in the dissolution of the British Raj, as the British government there was called. The two self-governing countries of Pakistan and India legally came into existence at midnight on 14–15 August 1947.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 1947-1948 war between India and Pakistan

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four Indo-Pakistan Wars fought between the two newly independent nations. Pakistan precipitated the war a few weeks after independence by launching tribal lashkar (militia) from Waziristan, in an effort to capture Kashmir, the future of which hung in the balance. The inconclusive result of the war still affects the geopolitics of both countries.

As of now, the Line of Control demarcates the areas of administration: Pakistan administers the territory to the northwest of the line; India administers the territory to the southeast. [29] Since 1989, a militant-fueled insurgency has raged in India-Administered-Kashmir, driven by a desire for either independence or union with Pakistan. [30] [31] [32] The United Nations has accused Pakistan of providing material support to the militants and accused India of committing human-rights violations. [33]

The standoff occurred ahead of the 2019 Indian general election. [34] [35] After the Pulwama attack, Pakistan's PM attributed Indian government's desire to retaliate against Pakistan to the upcoming election. [36] [37] The Indian government rejected the allegation. [36] Many analysts have stated that a military response to Pakistan would improve the electoral prospects of India's ruling party. [38] [39] [35] [40]

Military events

Pulwama attack

The 2019 Indo-Pakistan military standoff is a result of [41] a militant attack in February 2019, when a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy carrying security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Over 40 CRPF personnel and the perpetrator were killed in the attack, which Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for. The attacker was identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, a militant from Jammu and Kashmir, and a member of Jaish-e-Mohammed. [42] This was the deadliest attack on Indian forces in Kashmir since 1989. [43]

Balakot airstrike

On 26 February 2019, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes at Balakot in Pakistan. The strikes were subsequently claimed to be "non-military" and "preemptive" in nature; targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammed facility within Pakistan. The Indian government stated that the airstrike was in retaliation to the Pulwama attack and that "a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis" were eliminated who were preparing for launching another suicide attack targeting Indian assets. [44]

Indian media claimed to have confirmed from official sources that twelve Mirage 2000 jets were involved in the operation and that they struck multiple militant camps in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, [45] killing about 350 militants. The exact figures varied across media-houses. [46]

Pakistani officials acknowledged the intrusion of Indian aircraft into the country's airspace but rejected the claims about the results. They asserted that the Indian jets were intercepted and that the payloads were dropped in unpopulated areas and resulted in no casualties or infrastructural damage. [23] Pervez Khattak, the Pakistani Defence Minister, stated that the Pakistani Air Force did not retaliate at that time because "they could not gauge the extent of the damage". [47]

Business Today India stated that the area around Balakot had been cordoned off by the Pakistan Army and evidences such as the dead bodies were being cleared from the area. [48] Praveen Swami writing for Firstpost claimed that Indian intelligence estimated a figure of about 20 casualties and that there were five confirmed kills per burial records. [49] He also noted a JeM rally in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on 28 February, wherein Masood Azhar's brother, Abdul Rauf Rasheed Alvi mentioned India's attack of their headquarters and vowed revenge. [49] In another piece he stated that RAW analysts estimated 90 casualties including three Pakistani Army trainers, based on intercepted communications. [50] Swami also noted a lack of witness testimony to independently assess the validity of above claims. [50]

This airstrike was the first time since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 that aerial attacks had been carried out across the Line of Control. [50]

Villagers from the area claimed that four bombs struck a nearby forest and a field resulting in damage to a building and injuring a local man around 3:00 AM. [51] [52] A team from Al Jazeera visited the site two days after the strikes and noted "splintered pine trees and rocks" which were strewn across the four blast craters. Local hospital officials and residents asserted that they did not come across any casualty or wounded people. The reporters located the facility, [46] a school run by Jaish-e-Mohammed, at around a kilometre to the east of one of the bomb craters, atop a steep ridge, but were unable to access it. [53] Reporters from Reuters were denied access to the madrassa by the military but they noted the structure and its vicinity to be intact from the rear. [52]

Some diplomats and analysts have raised doubts about the efficacy of the strike, claiming that the terrorist groups along the border would have vacated the area, after the Indian Prime Minister vowed to retaliate against the Pulwama attack. [54] The local people varied as to the purpose of the facility. [53] Whilst some claimed its being an active Jaish training camp, others asserted it to have been a mere school for the local kids and that such militant camps had used to exist far earlier. [52] [53] Satellite-data analysis by Nathan Ruser, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute noted the absence of any apparent evidence to verify Indian claims. [46] [55] [56] Michael Sheldon, a digital forensics analyst at the Atlantic Council, did an independent investigation on the issue, in which he asserted that no damage was caused to any infrastructure around the target site. He concluded that "something appears to have gone wrong in the targeting process", which was mysterious in light of the autonomous nature of the missiles supposedly used. [57] [58] [59] [60]

In contrast, Indian officials said that synthetic aperture radar showed that four buildings had been destroyed; however, they did not release those images. [56] Vice-Marshal RGK Kapoor of the Indian Air Force said on 28 February 2019 that though it was "premature" to provide details about the casualties, they had "fairly credible evidence" of the damage inflicted on the camp by the air strikes. [52]

Border skirmishes

Heavy skirmishes between Pakistani and Indian forces occurred along the Line of Control on 26 February, with small arms and mortar fire being exchanged. [61] Pakistani officials reported that at least four civilians were killed, and eleven were wounded. [62] [63] A 55-year-old woman and her two children were killed in the Nakyal sector. In the Khuiratta sector, a 40-year-old woman was killed. [62]

Throughout 27 February, heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani forces continued along the Line of Control. [64] Ten Indian soldiers were injured along with two residential houses being destroyed in the skirmishes. [5] The Pakistani Army stated that on March 1, two of its soldiers were killed by firing from the Indian Army at the Line of Control. [65] Shelling across the Line of Control killed a Kashmiri woman and her two sons after a shell landed on their home, with another civilian being critically wounded. [66] On 6 and 7 March, Pakistani and Indian forces exchanged heavy artillery fire along the line of control, with Pakistani forces using 130 mm and 105 mm artillery and 120 mm mortars. [67] In response to the Pakistani artillery fire, the Indian army began utilizing 155mm FH77B Bofors cannons against Pakistani positions. [67]

Retaliatory airstrikes, capture and release of pilot

On 27 February, Pakistani military officials announced that Pakistan had carried out an airstrike against multiple targets in Jammu and Kashmir. A military spokesman claimed that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was able to lock onto Indian military installations, but opted to drop weapons into open areas instead, "to avoid human loss and collateral damage." [68] [69] Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the airstrikes only aimed to "send a message" and appealed for negotiations to avoid a full-blown war. [70] The spokesman further claimed that the Pakistan Air Force had shot down two Indian aircraft after they encroached on Pakistan's airspace, one of which fell in Pakistan administered Kashmir while the other fell in Indian administered Kashmir. [71] [72] It was also claimed that Pakistan Army had captured two Indian pilots but a subsequent statement revised the count to one [68] Abhinandan Varthaman, a Wing Commander. [8] [73]

India rejected this version of events and asserted to have "successfully foiled" Pakistan's attempt to "target military installations". [74] The Indian military claimed that three Pakistan Air Force jets had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir and had dropped bombs over Nadian, Laam Jhangar, Kerri in Rajouri District and Hamirpur area of Bhimber Galli in Poonch, before being pushed back by six Indian airforce jets. [75] [76] [77] There were no damage or casualties. [27] Raveesh Kumar from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs also stated that a Pakistani aircraft of the sortie was shot down by the Indian Air Force in the process. [16] [50] India initially contradicted Pakistan's claim of capturing a pilot [78] but subsequently the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed [16] that an Indian pilot was missing in action after a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane was lost while engaging with Pakistani jets. [79]

ANI also reported that an F-16 was shot down in the process. [80] On 28 February, a picture of aircraft wreckage in Pakistan administered Kashmir was claimed by IAF sources as the wreckage of the PAF F-16 shot down by the IAF MiG-21. [81] This was rebutted by Bellingcat, an open source investigative journalism network, which confirmed it as the wreckage of a MiG-21. [82] The Indian Air Force later presented wreckage of an AIM-120, an air-to-air missile, as evidence that Pakistani F-16 were used. The F-16 is the only aircraft in the Pakistan military that uses AIM-120s. [83] [84] India claims that the use of F-16 by Pakistan against India, violates the US arms sales agreement, which restricts the usage of the jets by Pakistan. [85] India also asked US to look into the claimed usage for violations. [86]

The claims of using F-16 in the attack were rejected by Pakistan's military, who claimed to have used Chinese-designed JF-17 s [57] only, whilst asserting that no Pakistan Air Force jet was damaged in the process. [87] The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad has since been looking into a potential violation of end-user-agreement that governed the sale of F16s. [88] [89] [90]


The retaliatory air strikes coupled with the capture of the Indian pilot led to a heightened state of military alert. Tanks were deployed to the border in the Pakistani side whilst several Kashmiri residents reportedly fled their homes and painted their homes with red-cross signs to avert air-strikes. [91]

Pakistan released the captured pilot on 1 March, describing the move as a gesture of peace. [6] [92] [93] The Indian Air Force though asserted the pilot's release as an obligation under the Geneva Conventions. [94] The Indian media also criticized Pakistan's release of his photographs and interrogation videos to be against the protocols of the convention. [95] [96] A video published by the state just prior to his release that showed him praising Pakistani Army and condemning Indian media was criticized for being heavily edited. [97] [98]

ANI and the Indian media have claimed that the Indian air force has shot down a number of Pakistani drones. The claims include that on 27 February, a Pakistani drone was shot and brought down near the border at Kutch in Gujarat On 4 March, an Indian Su-30MKI fighter jet shot down a Pakistani UAV with an air to air missile in Bikaner sector of Rajasthan. [99] [100] On 10 March, Indian army's air defence wing shot and brought down another Pakistani UAV in the Ganganagar sector in Rajasthan. On the same day another drone was fired upon and forced to return back to Pakistani airspace. [101]

On 5 March, the Pakistani Navy claimed to have successfully warded off an intrusion attempt by an Indian submarine into its territorial waters and released a video of a surfaced submarine. [102] [103] [104] The Indian Navy subsequently rejected these claims as "false propaganda." [105]

Other incidents

Closure of Pakistani airspace

On 27 February, Pakistan cancelled all commercial flights and closed its airspace until the midnight of 28 February. [106] [107] A NOTAM was issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to close the airspace. [108] Airlines were forced to reroute or cancel their flights with routes planned over Pakistan, leaving passengers stranded. [109] On 01 March, at 11:40 AM (UTC), the NOTAM closing the airspace was extended until 8:00 AM (UTC) on 04 March with 23 exceptions listed. [110] Pakistan's airspace was closed for flights crossing the country's airspace except for arriving and departing flights at major airports around Pakistan as per NOTAM issued by the CAA. [111] The airspace closure was again extended till 11 March. [112]

Suspension of Samjhauta Express

On 28 February, Samjhauta Express, a train that runs twice weekly between India and Pakistan, was suspended by the government of Pakistan. [113] It was scheduled to depart from Lahore with 16 passengers, who were stranded there. [114] On 4 March, Pakistan, and consequently India, resumed the operations of Samjhauta Express. [115]

Pakistan arrests suspected militants

On 5 March, Pakistan arrested 44 members of various groups, including the Jaish-e-Muhammad. Some of those arrested had been named by India in a dossier it gave to Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack. [116] Pakistan said those arrested will be held for at least 14 days, and if India provided further evidence they would be prosecuted. [117] Among those arrested were relatives of JeM leader Masood Azhar, including his son Hamad Azhar and his brother Abdul Rauf. [116]

International reaction

A number of nations, including Australia, [118] Canada, [119] China, [120] Indonesia, [121] Malaysia, [122] Sri Lanka, [123] the United Arab Emirates, [124] and the United States, [125] expressed their concern, with some calling for restraint. Iran and Turkey have each offered to mediate the crisis. [126] [127]

See also

Related Research Articles

Since the partition of British India in 1947 and creation of modern states of India and Pakistan, the two countries have been involved in a number of wars, conflicts and military stand-offs. The Kashmir issue has been the main cause of all major conflicts between the two countries with the exception of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 where conflict originated due to turmoil in erstwhile East Pakistan.

Pakistan Air Force Air warfare branch of Pakistans armed forces

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is the aerial warfare uniform service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial defence of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport and logistics capability to Pakistan. As of 2017, per IISS, the PAF has 65,000 personnel. It operates 883 aircraft.

Jaish-e-Mohammed Terrorist organisation active in Kashmir

Jaish-e-Mohammed is a Pakistan-based Deobandi jihadist terrorist group active in Kashmir. The group's primary motive is to separate Kashmir from India and merge it into Pakistan. Since its inception in 2000, the terror outfit has carried out several attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It projects Kashmir as a "gateway" to the entire India, whose Muslims are also deemed to be in need of liberation. After liberating Kashmir, it aims to carry its ‘jihad’ to other parts of India, with an intent to drive Hindus and other non-Muslims from the Indian subcontinent. It has carried out several attacks primarily in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It also maintained close relations with Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and continues to be allied to them.

Pakistan Naval Air Arm Atlantique shootdown aviation accident

On 10 August 1999, a Breguet Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft of the Pakistan Naval Air Arm was shot down by a MiG 21 fighter of the Indian Air Force over the Rann of Kutch, on the border between India and Pakistan. All 16 people on board the Atlantic were killed. The episode took place just a month after the Kargil War, aggravating already tense relations between the two countries.

Balakot Place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Balakot is a town in Mansehra District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The town was destroyed during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, but was later rebuilt with the assistance of the Government of Pakistan and Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV), a Saudi relief organisation.

Masood Azhar is the founder and leader of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed, active mainly in the Pakistani administered Azad Kashmir. Pakistani authorities took him into 'protective custody' after the Pathankot attack in India, which was widely reported as an "arrest". However he was seen to be free in December, 1999. India had listed Masood Azhar as one of its most wanted terrorists due to his history of militant activities. India has been continuously trying to place Azhar on UN Security Council's counter-terrorism sanctions list, a move supported by all other countries but vetoed by China.

2001–02 India–Pakistan standoff

The 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff was a military standoff between India and Pakistan that resulted in the massing of troops on either side of the border and along the Line of Control (LoC) in the region of Kashmir. This was the second major military standoff between India and Pakistan following the successful detonation of nuclear devices by both countries in 1998. The first being the Kargil War of 1999 and the most recent the escalation after the Pulwama Attack in 2019.

No. 1 Squadron IAF Indian Air Force flying squadron

No. 1 Squadron is the oldest squadron of the Indian Air Force. It operates as a multirole unit. Based at Gwalior AFB, No. 1 Squadron falls under the Central Air Command, and along with No. 7 Squadron, No. 9 Squadron, and TACDE, forms a part of 40 Wing of the Indian Air Force. 12 days after the Pulwama bombing by a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist killed 40 CRPF troopers, four Mirage 2000 fighters of the Tiger Squadron launched either Crystal Maze missiles or SPICE 2000 smart bombs at Markaz Syed Ahmad Shaheed training camp at Balakot, Manshera, Pakistan, killing, according to intelligence officials, 325 militants and terror recruits.

History of the Indian Air Force

The history of the Indian Air Force began with its establishment in 1932 and continues up to the present day.

Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 saw the Indian and Pakistani Air Forces engaged in large-scale aerial combat against each other for the first time since the Partition of India in 1947. The war took place during the course of September 1965 and saw both air forces conduct defensive and offensive operations over Indian and Pakistani airspace. The aerial war saw both sides conducting thousands of sorties in a single month. Both sides claimed victory in the air war; Pakistan claimed to have destroyed 104 enemy aircraft against its own losses of 19, while India claimed to have destroyed 73 enemy aircraft and lost 35 of its own. Despite the intense fighting, the conflict was effectively a stalemate.

2003 Nadimarg massacre was killing of 24 Hindu Kashmiri Pandits in the village of Nadimarg in Pulwama District of Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists on 23 March 2003.

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon has served the United States and the air arms of 25 other nations. Over 4,400 F-16s have been sold.

Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir include security operations such as Operation Rakshak (Protector) and Operation Sarp Vinash. Other operations include humanitarian missions such as Operation Megh Rahat and operations with a social aim such as Operation Goodwill and Operation Calm Down.

2016 Indian Line of Control strike

On 29 September 2016, India announced that it conducted "surgical strikes" against militant launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and inflicted "significant casualties". Indian media reported the casualty figures variously from 35 to 70. Partial footage of the surgical strikes was released to the Indian media on 27 June 2018.

The media coverage of the 2019 India-Pakistan standoff that escalated following an attack in Pulwama on 14 February 2019 through to the Balakot airstrike and the aftermath was criticised for largely being "jingoistic" and "nationalistic", to the extent of the media war-mongering and the battle being fought between India and Pakistan through newsrooms. During the escalation, fake videos and misinformation were prevalent on the social media which were further reported to escalate tensions between India and Pakistan. Once tensions started de-escalating, the media coverage shifted to comparisons being made between "India and Pakistan" and "Narendra Modi and Imran Khan" in terms of who won the "perception battle".

References

  1. "Indian aircraft violate Pakistan airspace 'to conduct surgical strike'". The Independent. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  2. "India will 'completely isolate' Pakistan". BBC News. 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 via bbc.com.
  3. "Pulwama terror attack: Timeline of conflict between India and Pakistan". gulfnews.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  4. Network, The Statesman/Asia News. "Heavy shelling reported on India-Pakistan border; 5 soldiers injured". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 DelhiFebruary 27, India Today Web Desk New; February 27, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 06:20. "J&K: Pakistan army uses tanks on LoC in Sialkot sector, situation tense, say sources". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Abhinandan: Captured Indian pilot handed back by Pakistan". BBC News . Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  7. Dawn.com (27 February 2019). "2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; pilot arrested". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  8. 1 2 DelhiFebruary 27, India Today Web Desk New; February 27, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 18:49. "Pakistan claims IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in its custody, releases video". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  9. "Pakistan shoots down two Indian Air Force jets as tensions escalate". Evening Standard. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  10. "2 IAF pilots feared dead as MiG crashes in Kashmir's Budgam". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  11. "Pakistan captures Indian pilot after shooting down aircraft, escalating hostilities". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Statement by Foreign Secretary on 26 February 2019 on the Strike on JeM training camp at Balakot". mea.gov.in. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019. a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated
  13. "India launches air strike in Pakistan; Islamabad denies militant..." Reuters. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 via reuters.com.
  14. "Pakistani villagers say one person wounded in Indian air strike". Reuters. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 via reuters.com.
  15. "Kashmir: at least eight killed as India-Pakistan hostilities resume". The Guardian. 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  16. 1 2 3 "Statement by Official Spokesperson on 27 February 2019". mea.gov.in. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  17. "Pak drone shot down near Gujarat border". The Hindu . 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  18. DelhiMarch 9, India Today Web Desk New; March 10, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 00:24. "Pakistani military drone shot down in Sri Ganganagar sector near Indo-Pak border". India Today.
  19. "Jet downing raises India-Pakistan tension". BBC News. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 via bbc.com.
  20. "Six martyred in Indian shelling at LoC". thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  21. "Deadly Pakistan-India Border Skirmishes Continue in Kashmir". VOA. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  22. "On Kashmir attack, Shah Mahmood Qureshi says 'violence is not the govt's policy'". DAWN.COM. 16 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  23. 1 2 3 "Indian strikes target militants in Pakistan". BBC News. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 via bbc.com.
  24. Joanna Slater, Pamela Constable (27 February 2019). "Pakistan captures Indian pilot after shooting down aircraft, escalating hostilities". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  25. "Pakistani villagers say one person wounded in Indian air strike". Reuters. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  26. Naqash, Tariq (27 February 2019). "4 AJK civilians dead, 11 wounded in 'indiscriminate' Indian shelling across LoC". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  27. 1 2 DelhiFebruary 27, India Today Web Desk New; February 27, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 12:45. "Pakistani jets cross LoC, Indian Air Force takes down one F-16". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  28. "A brief history of the Kashmir conflict". 24 September 2001. ISSN   0307-1235. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  29. Goel, Vindu (2019-02-27). "Why Do India and Pakistan Keep Fighting Over Kashmir?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  30. "Why India and Pakistan dispute Kashmir". 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  31. "BBC NEWS". news.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  32. Conflict Encyclopedia – India: Kashmir Archived 1 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine , Uppsala Conflict Data Program, 29 May 1977, retrieved 2013-05-29,
  33. Why the Kashmir conflict is not just an India-Pakistan border dispute Archived 5 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine , PBS , March 9, 2019.
  34. Tensions Between India and Pakistan Are at Their Highest Point in Decades. Here's What to Know Archived 28 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine , TIME .
  35. 1 2 Kumar, Nikhil. "Why being seen as tough on Pakistan helps India's Modi". CNN . Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  36. 1 2 "Pakistan warns India against attacking". 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019 via www.bbc.com.
  37. Dawn.com (19 February 2019). "Pakistan will address actionable evidence if shared by Delhi, PM Khan tells India after Pulwama attack". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  38. Lara Seligman and Robbie Gramer. "Amid Re-Election Campaign, Modi Takes the Fight to Pakistan Archived 28 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine ," Foreign Policy , February 27, 2019.
  39. Soutik Biswas. "'War' and India PM Modi's muscular strongman image Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine ," BBC News , March 6, 2019.
  40. Krishna N. Das, Devjyot Ghoshal. "Air strike on Pakistan sparks celebrations in India, seen boosting Modi support Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine ," Reuters , February 26, 2019.
  41. "Viewpoint: India strikes in Pakistan a major escalation". BBC News. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 via bbc.com.
  42. Pulwama Attack 2019, everything about J&K terror attack on CRPF by terrorist Adil Ahmed Dar, Jaish-eMohammad Archived 18 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine , India Today, 16 February 2019.
  43. "Deadliest Kashmir militant attack on troops". 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  44. "IAF struck 'JeM's biggest training camp' at Balakot, says Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on India's operation in Pakistan". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  45. "Surgical strike on Pakistan: Exact target of IAF operation identified as Jaba Top; air force carried out several hits around site". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  46. 1 2 3 Chacko, Johann; Chacko, Johann. "Both India and Pakistan may be lying, and that may breed worse disasters". Quartz India. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  47. Anderson, Claire (27 February 2019). "Pakistan defence minister mocked after saying it was 'Too Dark' for airstrike retaliation". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  48. "Pakistan trying to hide dead bodies of terrorists in Balakot, debunks India's claims: Source". businesstoday.in. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  49. 1 2 "Property records nail Pakistani lie on Jaish-e-Mohammed HQ in Bahawalpur, finds Firstpost investigation". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  50. 1 2 3 4 "India Pakistan: Kashmir fighting sees Indian aircraft downed". BBC News . 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  51. "No blood. No bodies. No debris. No tragedy". The Express Tribune. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  52. 1 2 3 4 "Pakistani village asks: Where are bodies of militants India says it..." Reuters. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  53. 1 2 3 "At raid site, no casualties and a mysterious school". aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  54. Abi-Habib, Maria; Ramzy, Austin (25 February 2019). "Indian Jets Strike in Pakistan in Revenge for Kashmir Attack". Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 via NYTimes.com.
  55. "Did Balakot Airstrikes Hit Their Target? Satellite Imagery Raises Doubts". The Wire. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  56. 1 2 "Eyewitnesses say Indian air strike on Balakot killed terrorists, former ISI agents". cnbctv18.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  57. 1 2 Safi, Michael (5 March 2019). "Kashmir's fog of war: how conflicting accounts benefit both sides". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  58. @DFRLab (28 February 2019). "Surgical Strike in Pakistan a Botched Operation?". DFRLab. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  59. Gettleman, Jeffrey; Kumar, Hari; Yasir, Sameer (2 March 2019). "Deadly Shelling Erupts in Kashmir Between India and Pakistan After Pilot Is Freed". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  60. Slater, Joanna (1 March 2019). "In crisis with Pakistan, India's Modi keeps eye on elections". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  61. "Heavy firing by Pakistan along LoC, Army strongly retaliates". Hindustan Times. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  62. 1 2 Naqash, Tariq (27 February 2019). "4 AJK civilians dead, 11 wounded in 'indiscriminate' Indian shelling across LoC". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  63. "India launches air strike inside Pakistan; Islamabad denies..." Reuters. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  64. "India-Pakistan reportedly exchange heavy fire on Line of Control – USD/INR may extend gains". FXStreet. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  65. Roshan Mughal; Aijaz Hussain (2 March 2019). "8 killed in India-Pakistan fighting after return of downed Indian fighter pilot". ChicagoTribune. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  66. "De-escalation delayed: India & Pakistan exchange shelling on Kashmir border, casualties reported". RT. 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019. A 24-year-old woman and her two siblings were killed on Friday night near the Line of Control, a heavily militarized frontier that divides Pakistani and Indian parts of Kashmir.
  67. 1 2 Gurung, Shaurya Karanbir (7 March 2019). "Army uses Bofors guns to respond to border shelling by Pakistan". The Economic Times.
  68. 1 2 "Pakistan says it shot down two Indian jets as Kashmir border crisis deepens". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  69. "Pakistan had no choice but to respond, says DG ISPR". The Nation. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  70. "Pakistan PM Imran Khan appeals for talks with India to avoid war Archived 27 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine ", The Guardian
  71. "Pakistan shoots down two Indian fighter jets: Military". aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  72. "2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; pilot arrested". DAWN.COM. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  73. Dawn.com (27 February 2019). "2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; 2 pilots arrested". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  74. "Tension in the air: IAF, PAF lose a jet each; pilot in Pakistan custody – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  75. "Pakistan jets violate Indian airspace in Kashmir's Nowshera, drop bombs". The Week. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  76. "Pakistani jets violate Indian air space, enter border areas of Nowshera sector in J-K's Rajouri district – Hwnews.in". Dailyhunt. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  77. "Indian pilot 'missing in action'; IAF shoots down Pakistan's jet: What we know so far – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  78. M. Ilyas Khan, Abhinandan: Villagers recount dramatic capture of pilot Archived 1 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine , BBC News
  79. "India-Pak Tensions LIVE: IAF Wing Commander Missing After MiG-21 Crash, Pakistan Claims He is in Their Custody, Says Govt". News18. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  80. "Pakistan violates Indian airspace, India shoots down F-16". thenewsminute.com. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  81. "Wreckage Of Downed Pak F-16 Fighter Seen In PoK". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  82. "Falcon vs Bison: Verifying a MiG-21 Wreck". bellingcat. 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  83. Trevithick, Joseph (28 February 2019). "India Shows Proof U.S. Made F-16s And AIM-120 Missiles Were Used By Pakistan In Aerial Brawl". The Drive. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019. Whatever happens, the recovered piece of the AIM-120C-5 is strong evidence that Pakistani F-16s tangled with Indian jets for the first time in the air battle over Jammu and Kashmir.
  84. "IAF shows parts of Amraam missile, says evidence confirms MiG-21 shot down Pakistan's F-16". The Times of India. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  85. "U.S. wants to know if Pakistan used U.S.-built F-16 jets to down..." Reuters. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  86. "Statement by the Spokesperson on India Pakistan Situation". mea.gov.in. Ministry of External Affairs - Government of India. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  87. "Pakistan says no F-16 aircraft used, dismisses report of their fighter jet crashing". businesstoday.in. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  88. Khan, Shehab (3 March 2019). "US demands to know if Pakistan used F-16 jet to shoot down Indian warplane". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  89. "Washington wants to know if Pakistan used U.S.-built jets to down..." Reuters. 3 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  90. Abi-Habib, Maria (3 March 2019). "After India Loses Dogfight to Pakistan, Questions Arise About Its 'Vintage' Military". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  91. Abi-Habib, Maria; Kumar, Hari (27 February 2019). "Pakistani Military Says It Downed Two Indian Warplanes, Capturing Pilot". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  92. Pakistan, Govt of (28 February 2019). "Pakistan will release Indian Pilot Abhinandan tomorrow as a gesture of peace: Prime Minister Imran Khanpic.twitter.com/6aUN4S9JVb". @pid_gov. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  93. "Pakistan 'to free Indian pilot on Friday'". 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  94. "No goodwill gesture to return pilot Abhinandan, was expected under Geneva Conventions, says IAF". 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  95. "Did Geneva Conventions Make Pakistan Release IAF Pilot or Was it A Peace Gesture? News18 Explains". News18. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  96. Dawn.com (1 March 2019). "Captured IAF pilot handed over to Delhi as 'peace gesture'". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  97. Safi, Michael (1 March 2019). "Pakistan returns Indian pilot shot down over Kashmir in 'peace gesture'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  98. "Pakistan hands back captured Indian pilot". 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  99. "Pakistani military drone shot down in Sri Ganganagar sector near Indo-Pak border". India Today. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  100. Pubby, Manu (5 March 2019). "Su30s scramble after Pakistan drone intrusion on Rajasthan border". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  101. "Caught Intruding, Drone Shot Down Along Rajasthan's Border With Pakistan". NDTV.com. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  102. "Pakistan Navy claims it thwarted Indian submarine from entering its waters". Hindustan Times. 5 March 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  103. "Pakistan claims it chased away Indian Navy submarine, releases video". India Today. 5 March 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  104. Siddiqui, Naveed (5 March 2019). "Pakistan Navy foils attempt by Indian submarine to enter Pakistani waters". Dawn . Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  105. "Pakistan's claims on Indian submarine false propaganda: Navy". The Times of India. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  106. "Thousands stranded in Thailand, a day after Pakistan closes airspace". DAWN.COM. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  107. Qazi Hassan, Sirajuddin (27 February 2019). "Pakistani airspace to remain closed till Thursday midnight". DAWN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  108. Pakistan, C. A. A. (27 February 2019). "Civil Aviation Authority of #Pakistan has officially closed its airspace until further notice & issued NOTAM. pic.twitter.com/qGZBMiKxvG". @AirportPakistan. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  109. "India-Pakistan tensions force airlines to cancel and reroute flights | DW | 28.02.2019". Deutsche Welle . Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  110. https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/Notams/A210-19.txt
  111. https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/Notams/
  112. "Pakistan closes its airspace till March 11". Daily Times. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  113. "LIVE: Pakistan suspends cross-border Samjhauta Express". Moneycontrol.com. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  114. "Amid tensions with India, Pakistan suspends Samjhauta Express". India Today. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  115. "Samjhauta Express train resumes operation today". The Nation. 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  116. 1 2 Asghar, Naseem. "Son of Masood Azhar among 44 arrested Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine ," The Express Tribune .
  117. Asad Hashim. "Pakistan arrests scores in fresh crackdown on armed groups Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine ," Al Jazeera English
  118. "Australia Asks India, Pak To 'Exercise Restraint', Engage In Dialogue". Outlook. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  119. "Canada calls for de-escalation between India and Pakistan". canada.ca. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  120. "China goes soft on Pakistan, says it has always opposed terrorism". India Today . 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019.
  121. Khaliq, Riyaz ul (28 February 2019). "Indonesia calls on India, Pakistan to reduce tensions". Anadolu Agency . Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  122. "Malaysia expresses concern over India-Pakistan tensions". Bernama. The Edge Markets. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  123. "Ensure stability of entire region: SL tells India, Pakistan". Daily Mirror. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019.
  124. "Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Calls PM Modi, Imran Khan Amid Rising Tensions". NDTV . 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019.
  125. "Concern Regarding India-Pakistan Tensions". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  126. "Iran offers mediation between Pakistan and India amid rising tensions". Samaa TV. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  127. "Turkey offers mediation between Pakistan, India as tensions escalate". The Express Tribune. 27 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.