In a major escalation of tension on Wednesday, Pakistan said that two Indian military aircraft were shot down and one pilot was captured upon violating the Line of Control (LoC) when PAF aircraft undertook strikes across the LoC from within Pakistani airspace. "Today's strike demonstrates our right, will and capability to defend ourselves. We do not want war. We hope India will come to the table to resolve all outstanding issues," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a tweet following the PAF's action.
This comes a day after Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft violated the LoC and dropped payload in Balakot before they were engaged by PAF jets. India later claimed it had targeted a so-called training camp of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and killed its members and senior commanders, the claims which Pakistan categorically rejected.
"Today [Wednesday], Pakistan Air Force undertook strikes across Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace. This was not retaliation to continued Indian belligerence. Pakistan has, therefore, taken strikes at non-military target, avoiding human loss and collateral damage," said Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal.
He stated: "Sole purpose was to demonstrate our capability for self-defence. We have no intention to escalate tension, 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," the spokesperson asserted. For the last few years, he pointed out, 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 resolves issues like a mature democratic nation," he added.
This was followed by a tweet by Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor who stated: "In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs], IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot was arrested by troops on ground while two are in the area."
Many regional and international countries including the United States, Russia, Japan, Britain, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal and others have called on both Pakistan and India to exercise restraint and start dialogue.
Chairing a special consultative meeting at the Foreign Office on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Indian aggressive designs for political purposes can jeopardise peace in the region.
He said Pakistan will continue its diplomatic efforts for restoration of peace, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again invited India to come to the dialogue table for peace in the region. The meeting which was attended by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, senior officers of Foreign Office and former diplomats, also decided to intensify interactions with political leadership of important countries.