Pakistan makes U-turn, says they have only 1 pilot in custody ISLAMABAD: Pakistan army on Wednesday said it has arrested "only one" Indian pilot, retracting from its earlier statement two IAF pilots were under its custody . "There is only one pilot under Pakistan Army's custody," Pakistani military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said.Earlier, Ghafoor claimed that two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots were arrested. One pilot is injured and has been shifted to a hospital, while another one is unhurt, the spokesman had said.The ministry of external affairs said that Pakistan Air Force targeted 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".The MEA said that according to Pakistan the missing IAF pilot was in their custody. "We are ascertaining that," the MEA spokesman said.<doc-sep>Indian Air Force (IAF) crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and two of their aircraft were shot down by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) inside the Pakistani airspace. — Geo News screengrab ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace on Wednesday and arrested an Indian pilot on ground. Pakistani military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said Indian Air Force (IAF) crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and two of their aircraft were shot down by PAF inside Pakistani airspace. "One of the aircraft fell inside AJK while other fell inside IoK," he added. Addressing a press conference later during the day, Director General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said, "Two Indian jets entered Pakistani airspace and the PAF faced them. The two planes were shot down — one fell in our space and the other on their side." He said the arrested Indian pilot was in Pakistan Army custody. The DG ISPR stressed, "Pakistan's armed forces have capability, will, resolve and nation’s support. But because we are a responsible state and want peace, we decided first of all that we won’t take any military targets." "Secondly we decided that there be no loss of life or collateral damage in our engaging of targets," he added while delving into details regarding PAF shooting down the aircraft. "Our planes locked targets, then in open air we carried out strikes," he continued. "We locked all targets with accuracy, and when we had option to fire, we acted responsibly from a safe distance. We have capability to do anything, but we don’t want escalation. We don’t want to go towards war," he asserted. Refuting Indian media reports that a Pakistani F-16 jet was shot down, DG ISPR said, "Pakistan did not use F-16 in any activity today." The Pakistan military spokesperson stressed, "The state, government, armed forces and people of Pakistan have always conveyed a message of peace to India. The road to peace goes through dialogue. Both countries have the capability and capacity but war is the failure of policy which India needs to understand. We do not want to escalate and follow a path which leads to peace. The people of both countries and region at large have a right to live and live in peace. War is not the solution to problems. India should think with a cool head on this offer from Pakistan. " We don’t want to indicate any victory. There are no victors in war. I request media to report objectively, responsibly, to go towards peace. Our message is for peace, he further said. "Starting a war is easy, but where it ends, nobody knows," DG ISPR stated. Calling on the international community to play its role, DG ISPR said, “Pakistan is sending message of peace and they should also come forward and see how the environment between India and Pakistan is a threat to peace and for development not only to the two countries but the region and beyond.” Major General Ghafoor added, "Pakistan’s response is not a retaliation per se, but a demonstration of our capability, responsibility and will. It is now up to India whether they go towards peace, which is a requirement of the region. But if forced, we will respond." In response to a question, Major General Ghafoor said, "Pakistan is not pushing for war. We engaged our targets in open air, we deliberately avoided escalation. We could easily have taken the original targets, but we did not do that." Regarding the airspace being closed, the DG ISPR said, "It has been closed due to the environment." India confirms MiG 21 shot down, pilot missing The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said a MiG 21 was shot down and its pilot is missing. Addressing a press conference, a spokesperson for the Indian MEA said, "We unfortunately lost one MiG-21 in this engagement and an Indian pilot is missing in action. Pakistan claims the pilot is in their custody, however we are ascertaining the facts." "In the aerial engagement, a Pakistan fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG-21 Bison. The aircraft was seen by ground forces falling on the Pakistan side," he added. Earlier, Indian media confirmed an Indian Air Force (IAF) wing commander is in Pakistan's custody. India media reports stated IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan took off in a MiG 21 Bison jet and is yet to return. Wing Commander Abhinandan is the son of a retired Indian Air Marshal, the reports added. A video of the captured Indian pilot was released. In the video, the captured pilot can be heard saying: “My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan. My service number is 27981. I am a flying pilot. My religion is Hindu.” When asked to share more, the arrested pilot can be heard saying: “I’m sorry sir, that’s all I’m supposed to tell you.” Pakistani strikes not retaliation to continued Indian belligerence: FO The Foreign Office in a statement stated, "Pakistan Air Force (PAF) conducted strikes across Line of Control (LoC) 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," the FO statement read. "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," it added. "That is why we undertook the action with clear warning and in broad daylight." The FO further said, "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." The retaliatory act comes after Pakistan warned India of a "surprise" on Tuesday in the wake of Indian military aircraft's intrusion into Pakistani airspace. Flight operations suspended across Punjab, KP Flight operations were suspended across major airports in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to manager Lahore Airport, flight operations have been suspended at the Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and New Islamabad International Airport. All incoming and outgoing local and international flights have been suspended until further orders, he added. Incoming flight from Guangzhou in China has also been sent back. Further, sources said a passenger airplane was stopped from taking off from Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar on the orders of Civil Aviation Authority. India has shut at least four airports after the incident, according to Reuters. Flight operations at Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot and Leh airports have been suspended. Airports in Chandigarh and Amritsar have also been closed, Reuters added. 'Time to wait for our surprise' Major General Ghafoor on Tuesday warned India that it was time to "wait for our surprise". "I said three things: You will never be able to surprise us. We have not been surprised. We were ready, we responded, we denied. I said we will retain the escalation ladder. We have that initiative in our hand," he said. "I said that we will surprise you. Wait for that surprise. I said that our response will be different. See it for yourself. The response will come, and response will come differently," the DG ISPR warned the Indian army. Earlier today, six citizens were martyred as Indian forces once again violated the LoC by resorting to unprovoked mortar shelling. Sources in the area said six citizens were martyred in the unprovoked shelling in Kotli village in Nakyal sector of LoC. Three of a family were among those martyred in the Indian firing. A woman was martyred in Indian unprovoked firing in Khoi Rata sector of the LoC while a citizen was critically injured in the LoC violation in Abbaspur sector.<doc-sep>NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday summoned the acting high commissioner of Pakistan and demanded immediate and safe return of an IAF pilot who was detained by Pakistan following an aerial engagement by air forces of the two countries.It has also been made clear to Pakistan that no harm should be caused to the Indian defence personnel, the external affairs ministry said, adding it has conveyed strong objection to the neighbouring country at the "vulgar display" of an injured personnel in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.Pakistan detained Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman following a fierce engagement between air forces of the two sides along the Line of Control in which a Pakistani jet was downed. IAF also lost a MiG 21 jet in the engagement. "It was made clear that Pakistan would be well advised to ensure that no harm comes to the Indian defence personnel in its custody. India also expects his immediate and safe return," the MEA said.The Pakistani acting high commissioner was summoned this afternoon by the MEA to lodge a strong protest at the unprovoked act of aggression by Pakistan against India, including by violation of the Indian air space and targeting of Indian military posts.The response by Pakistani air force came a day after IAF smashed a terrorist training camp of JeM terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan. "This is in contrast to the India's non-military anti-terror pre-emptive strike at a JeM terrorist camp in Balakot on February 26. It is unfortunate that instead of fulfilling its international obligation and bilateral commitment to take credible action against terrorist entities and individuals operating from its soil, Pakistan has acted with aggression against India," the MEA said. "It was clearly conveyed that India reserves the right to take firm and decisive action to protect its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity against any act of aggression or cross-border terrorism," said the MEA.<doc-sep>
Radio Pakistan has released the first footage of an Indian pilot captured after his aircraft was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) when it entered their airspace. WATCH: Indian plane going down in flames after it was hit by Pakistan in alleged 1st footage The PAF says it shot down two Indian aircraft, one of which fell inside Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while other fell inside Indian-administered Kashmir. In the video, the arrested Indian pilot is seen giving his name and rank number to the Pakistani officials questioning him. Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said two fighter jets had been shot down, and three pilots captured. The Pakistani government's official Twitter account named the pilot in the footage as Wing Commander Indian Air Force Abhinandan. There is only one pilot under Pakistan Army’s custody. Wing Comd Abhi Nandan is being treated as per norms of military ethics. pic.twitter.com/8IQ5BPhLj2 — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019 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. — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 27, 2019 “Today, Pakistan Air Force undertook strikes across Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace,” the Foreign Ministry said. “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.” Tensions have severely escalated between India and Pakistan this week, with both countries ordering airstrikes and ground troops exchanging fire over the Kashmir Line of Control. Each state claims the contested region as their own, and it is divided into two areas of control. Also on rt.com ‘No Indian movie will be released’: Pakistan bans Bollywood films & ads after air raid An attack in Kashmir that killed 40 Indian soldiers on February 14 was claimed by a Pakistan-based group, Jaish-e-Mohammad, sparking the current tensions between the two nuclear powers. Pakistani officials said at least four civilians were killed by mortar fire on Tuesday, while the Indian Army said that five of its soldiers were wounded from shelling. Meanwhile, Indian media reports that a Pakistani F-16 has been shot down in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. India External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the country “does not wish to see further escalation of the situation” and “will continue to act with responsibility and restraint.” India and Pakistan have fought three different conflicts since their independence from British colonial rule in 1947, two of them about contested Kashmir. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!