Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said they will release the captured Indian pilot as a ‘gesture of peace’ on Friday.
Prime Minister Khan informed the parliament saying Pakistan was focused on de-escalation, agencies said.
Pakistan shot down a jet on Wednesday and ‘captured’ its pilot following escalating tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed region of Kashmir. (Agencies)
KATHMANDU: Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following India’s “pre-emptive air strikes” targeting Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s camp, an Indian retired Maj. General claims the tension will “cool down” in the next few days.
Talking to Khabarhub from Lucknow, Retd. Maj General Harsha Kakar labeled this as a temporary affair. “Pakistan was under immense internal pressure to act. Opposition parties might have put pressure on the government to act,” he told Khabarhub.
He is, however, hopeful that the ongoing tension will “cool down” in the next few days.
However, Azaz Syed, a Pakistani security expert, and senior journalist claimed Pakistan is “well prepared and equipped” to retaliate India’s actions.
“Pakistan is well prepared to retaliate India’s move anytime,” he told Khabarhub from Islamabad.
According to him, there has been heightened tension in the country after both the countries claimed of “downing” each other’s fighter aircraft on Wednesday.
While the Pakistani army has claimed they have shot down two Indian aircraft on Wednesday, the Indian army said they “downed” a Pakistani aircraft near the Line of Control (LoC).
Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces tweeted that Pakistani army shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace. According to him, one of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while others fell inside IOK.
Ghafoor claimed that one of the aircraft fell in Pakistan-controlled territory while the other fell in the Indian side, according to India media.
Meanwhile, India has claimed of shooting down Pakistan F-16 that violated the Indian space on Wednesday.
“There is a long history of tensions and wars between India and Pakistan. However, I believe it is in the interest of both states to try and maintain peace and security in the region. It is very important that both India and Pakistan exercise restraint, and avoid escalation, particularly given that they both have nuclear capabilities,” Vitor Ramon Fernandes, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Lusiada, Portugal, told Khabarhub.
Nepal’s security expert Dr. Deepak Prakash Bhatta, meanwhile, said Nepal, as the Chair of SAARC, should endeavor to amicably deescalate the tension and cool down both the nuclear powers.
“Nepal should act on the basis of “Panchesheel” by taking the side of none. “Most importantly, Nepal government should lobby with the Indian side that the latter does not deploy Gorkha army in the conflict zone,” he said.
Nepal’s stance
The Government of Nepal said it is concerned about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack on security forces in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14, 2019.
Nepal had earlier condemned this ‘heinous’ terrorist act.
A press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said as the current Chair of SAARC, Nepal “calls on both sides to exercise utmost restraint and not engage in actions that would threaten peace and security” in the region.
The MoFA has also urged both the countries to seek a solution through dialogue and peaceful means in order to ease tension.
India-Pak conflict: Security high alert in Nepal
Nepal Police have beefed up security condition along the Nepal-India border and airport areas following the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan.
Nepal Police has maintained high alert security following the heightened tension between Pakistan and India in view of the possible infiltration into Nepal, Uttam Raj Subedi, spokesperson of Nepal Police, told Khabarhub.
According to Subedi, security has been beefed up along the airport areas and Nepal-India borders to ensure that Nepali land will not be used against India and Pakistan.
Nepal Police is equally aware of the possible influx of refugees. The security has been heightened after an unsuccessful attempt was made to hijack a Dubai-bound plane in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh on Sunday.
KATHMANDU: There has been an escalated tension between the two nuclear powers – India and Pakistan—after both the countries have claimed of shooting down one another’s aircraft on Wednesday, reports have said.
Pakistani army has claimed they have shot down two Indian aircraft on Wednesday.
Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces tweeted that Pakistani army shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace. According to him, one of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK.
Ghafoor claimed that one of the aircraft fell in Pakistan-controlled territory while the other fell in the Indian side, according to India media.
Meanwhile, India has claimed of shooting down Pakistan F-16 that violated the Indian space on Wednesday.
India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh is holding a high-level meeting in the Indian capital of New Delhi to discuss row between the two countries.
According to reports, two pilots are feared dead when an Indian Air Force helicopter – Mi-17V-5 — crashed in Budgam of Jammu and Kashmir this afternoon.
Tensions have escalated after Indian fighter jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and carried out “pre-emptive air strikes” targeting terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s camp in Pakistan.
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is currently in China, said the objective of the pre-emptive attack on the terrorist camp was based on attack on terrorism. India attacked the camp after Pakistani government refused to acknowledge and act against terror camps in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA). It is a body that controls Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
Earlier on Wednesday, an Indian army official said the Indian air-force jets intercepted three Pakistani warplanes that crossed into the Indian side of Kashmir. (Agencies)
Also read: Pak. claims of shooting down two Indian aircraft; India follow-suits
KATHMANDU: Pakistani army has claimed they have shot down two Indian aircraft on Wednesday.
Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces tweeted that Pakistani army shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. According to him, one of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK.
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
Meanwhile, India has claimed of shooting down Pakistan F-16 that violated the Indian space on Wednesday.
India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh is holding a high-level meeting in the Indian capital of New Delhi to discuss row between the two countries.
According to reports, two pilots are feared dead when an Indian Air Force helicopter – Mi-17V-5 — crashed in Budgam of Jammu and Kashmir this afternoon.
(Agencies)
KATHMANDU: Indian fighter jets have carried out surgical strikes on a terrorist camp across the Line of Control in Balakot, a town in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, on Tuesday, reported a news agency.
According to the report, a group of 12 Mirage 2000 jets of Indian Air Force dropped 1,000 kilograms of bombs on the major terrorist camp and destroyed it completely.
However, major general Asif Ghafoor of Pakistan, in a tweet, said Indian fighter jets violated an agreed border between the two countries. Balakot is about 50 kilometers from the LoC.
The attack comes 12 days after Pakistan-based terror group JeM carried out the deadly attack in Pulwama which left 40 Indian soldiers dead.
Major General Asif Ghafoorn Pakistan army spokesperson, has alleged that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had violated the Line of Control (LoC).
Pakistan’s claim came amid escalated tension between the two nuclear giants following the February 14 attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad that claimed lives of at least 40 Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Amid heightened tension, Prime Minister Naredra Modi had said the security forces were given a free hand to retaliate the evil attack.
Payload of hastily escaping Indian aircraft fell in open. pic.twitter.com/8drYtNGMsm
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019
At least 70 people died after drinking toxic bootleg alcohol in India’s north-eastern state of Assam, reports say.
Agencies said more than 200, several of them women, are being treated in hospitals. The victims are workers in tea estates in Golaghat and Jorhat districts. Local reports say the number of deaths is expected to go up.
Reports said 58 people died from drinking illegal alcohol in Golaghat district alone. Likewise, another 12 people died by the poisonous liquor in Jorhat district, reports said. (Agencies)
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the airport signaling the significance that India attaches to its strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia.
The Crown Prince touched down in New Delhi late on Tuesday. PM Modi, in a break from normal protocol, welcomed the Saudi prince at the airport with a warm hug.
PM Modi later tweeted: “India is delighted to welcome HRH Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Crown Prince’s two-day visit takes place against the backdrop of an escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack in which 44 personnel of the CRPF lost their lives.
A pilot died in mid-air collision of two Hawk trainer jets on Tuesday at Bengaluru’s Aero India show. Two pilots have been injured in the incident.
The collision occurred during the practice session of the Suryakiran aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force, Indian media reported.
Sahil Gandhi sustained fatal injuries while Shelke and TJ Singh ejected. (Agencies)
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he would act against the perpetrators of the Pulwama terror attack if India shared “actionable intelligence”.
He, however, warned against any “revenge” retaliatory action.
In a video message, PM Khan said it is in Pakistan’s interest that nobody from the Pakistani soil spreads violence. “Let me clearly tell the Indian side that Pakistan will take necessary action if evidence is found against anyone involved in the attack from Pakistan,” he said.
In his address, PM Khan said he should have responded immediately as Pakistan was blamed for it. “Since Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia was visiting, and an investment conference was under way, for which Pakistan prepared a lot, I decided not to respond then.”
Now that the Crown Prince has left, he said he decided to respond.
He said India blamed Pakistan for the attack without any evidence adding that the allegations were made without a thought as to how Pakistan would gain from it.
NEW DELHI: India is holding the general election in May this year. Hundreds of millions of Indians prepare to cast their votes to decide who will govern the world’s largest democracy for the next five years.
Here are the key numbers to know:
875 million: The number of voters. Earlier in 2014, there were 830 million voters. Out of them, only 550 million cast their votes.
545: The number of seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament of India.
1 million: The number of polling stations
10 million: 10 million election officials will be deployed for the elections.
464: The total number of political parties that took part in the 2014 general election.
8,251: The total number of candidates in 2014 general election.
282: BJP won 282 seats in the Lok Sabha in 2014. This is the largest majority win by a single party in 30 years in India. (Agencies)