Pak intrudes in J-K skies, PM firm on holding the fire
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 19: A Pakistani military reconnaissance aircraft was ‘‘hit’’ by the Indian Army when along with another it violated Indian airspace near Chhamb in Jammu and Kashmir this afternoon, Defence officials said today. The two aircraft, suspected to be mapping Indian defences, flew back into Pakistani territory. An official statement from Pakistan late this evening, however, claimed that Islamabad was ‘‘unaware’’ of any such development and didn’t have anything to say unless India made a formal complaint.

‘‘We hit one of the fixed-wing aircraft, suspected to be a Mushaq trainer aircraft, and saw smoke,’’ an official said. ‘‘What is still being ascertained is whether some debris fell on the Indian side or entirely on the Pakistani side. The aircraft was hit on its return journey.’’

The incident occurred around 2.20 pm. ‘‘The two aircraft were flying low and crossed over to the Indian side. There is no possibility of error since they crossed the 150-metre wide Manover river which is a clear demarcation,’’ an Army spokesman said.

The Army unit deployed there opened fire using medium machine guns but failed to bring down the aircraft. A protest is being lodged with the Pakistan government, he added. There is an infantry brigade deployed in the area, which falls under the 16 Corps.

‘‘This area is clearly in the Indian side some 45 kilometers from Akhnoor so there is no question of the two Pakistani aircraft having strayed into the Indian side,’’ he added.

An Indian Air Force official said a live scramble could not be ordered immediately because by the time they ascertained the type of aircraft, its intrusion and intention, it had already flown back after being targeted by the ground troops. ‘‘The ORP (operational readiness platform) for the region was at Pathankot. Details are being taken on the action taken once the airspace violation was detected,’’ IAF sources said.

This is the first reported incident of Pakistani military aircraft coming into the Indian side in the Jammu region after the ceasefire. A Pakistan navy maritime reconnaissance aircraft, the Atlantique, was hit in August 1999 when it violated the Indian air space off the coast of Gujarat near Naliya. A MiG-21 aircraft flew from the Naliya air base and shot down the Pakistani navy aircraft.

‘‘Here at Chhamb there was not enough time for the IAF aircraft to take off and intercept the Pakistani intruders. The anti-aircraft guns too were moved in but there was not enough time to target the two low flying aircraft,’’ sources added.

The Army suspects that the Pakistani forces were trying to map changes in the security pattern and location of Indian establishment post cease-fire. ‘‘Probably with the onset of summers and opening of the passes in the higher reaches, they want to know more areas to come in from but this is still too soon,’’ said an official.

Security in the region has been strengthened and more anti-aircraft guns are being deployed near the line of control in other areas to prevent further air space violation. ‘‘Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) keep coming across trying to take photographs but this is the first time that two piloted aircraft came in. They could also be seeing our response and then chart out further course of action,’’ he added.