Feb 27, 2019 02:20 PM IST | Source: Moneycontrol.com
IAF Air Strike LIVE: Entire airspace north of Delhi vacated; 9 airports closed
Live updates of the developments after IAF struck JeM's terror camp in Balakot. Pakistani jets violated Indian air space in J&K’s Nowshera sector but were pushed back by Indian aircraft on air patrol.
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Entire airspace north of Delhi vacated, 9 airports closed
Airports at Srinagar, Jammu, Leh, Pathankot, Amritsar, Shimla, Kangra, Kullu Manali, Pithoragarh have been closed, PTI has reported.
The move to close the airports comes amid escalation of tension between India and Pakistan.
China’s Foreign Ministry today said it reiterated its call for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint. Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the comment at a regular news briefing in Beijing. (Reuters)
Pakistan’s Information Ministry had posted a tweet claiming that an IAF pilot has been arrested. The tweet also includes a video which Moneycontrol has not been able to independently verify.
The video was subsequently deleted.
"I remember when the United States' Navy Seals had conducted an operation in Abbottabad to take away Osama Bin Laden... can't we also do that? This used to be mere idea, a wish. There was a lot of frustration and dejection, but today even doing that is possible," Union Minister Arun Jaitley has said during a press conference.
Moneycontrol’s Prince Thomas has reported that international flights to and from India are now avoiding Pakistani airspace. Experts say it is possible as Pakistan airspace not big, but flights now need to have more fuel.
Pakistan’s DG ISPR Maj Gen. Asif Ghafoor has said that it had “no engagement with” the IAF helicopter crash in Budgam.
Pakistan engaged six targets across the LoC from within the Pakistani airspace. We had decided that we will not hit any military targets in India. Also, no human life should be lost, no collateral damage: DG ISPR Major Gen. Asif Ghafoor has claimed during a press conference.
Moneycontrol’s Prince Thomas has reported that the New Delhi airport has not shut down its commercial operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing a security meeting, reports suggest.
India has denied Pakistan's claim of shooting down two IAF aircraft and arresting one pilot. News18 has quoted IAF as saying that all pilots have been "accounted for".
An official statement from IAF is awaited.
The Indian Air Force is likely to issue a detailed public statement shortly.
Cross-border breach by Pakistan comes ahead of its Nuclear Command Authority meet scheduled for later today. The meeting will be chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Sources told News18 that Home Minister Rajnath Singh has met all paramilitary DGs. Singh was briefed about the border situation. He gave specific instructions to all DGs for complete preparedness at the border and full strength deployment. Instructions were also given for safeguarding civilians and following standard operating procedures (SOPs) in case of any emergency.
There is no confirmation of an IAF pilot being arrested by Pakistan.
Reports suggest that the Indian Air Force is now in the highest state of alert. IAF jets are in high state of readiness and can take off in two minutes.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are also at the highest state of readiness, television reports add.
Reports suggest that the Indian Air Force is now in the highest state of alert. IAF jets are in high state of readiness and can take off in two minutes.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are also at the highest state of readiness, television reports add.
Pakistan has also shut down domestic and international commercial flights from airports in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad and Sialkot.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres is following the situation in the subcontinent and has called for "maximum restraint" by both countries, reports suggest.
UPDATE | It is now being reported that the crash in Budgam was an IAF Mi-17 helicopter, not a fighter jet.
JUST IN | High-level meeting is underway. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale is also present is in the meeting, News18 has reported.
The Karachi index is down 3.5 percent amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
Market reacts
Benchmark indices corrected sharply from its highs with the Sensex losing more than 600 points from intraday high after PTI report said Pakistan jets violated Indian airspace and entered border areas of Nowshera sector, but the jets were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol.
At 12.06 pm IST, the 30-share BSE Sensex slipped 191.47 points to 35,782.24 and the Nifty50 fell 67.20 points to 10,768.10.
CNBC-TV18 report said two pilots were dead after military aircraft crashed in Budgam district in Jammu and Kashmir. Hence, civilian air traffic to and fro Srinagar airport is suspended due to ongoing IAF operations.