India-Pak Tensions LIVE: Sushma Swaraj at OIC Meet Today; All Eyes on Pakistan After Boycott Threat

Pakistan has violated Geneva Conventions by tweeting video of captured IAF pilot, Washington Post report quoting a military justice expert at Southwestern Law School. "Releasing the video would be prohibited by that provision," Rachel E. VanLandingha said. VanLandingham said not that every violation of the Geneva Conventions is a war crime in itself. But what does matter in terms of violation, she said, was the purpose of releasing the video and whether Varthaman was recognisable.

The three service chiefs will meet Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shortly, news agency ANI said quoting its sources. The chiefs had on Wednesday apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the security situation after Pakistani aircraft violated Indian airspace and an Indian pilot was taken into custody by the neighbouring country. 

Minister of state for external affairs Gen (retired) Vijay Kumar Singh said that he differed with his party member, Yeddyurappa. "We stand as one nation, action taken by our government is to safeguard our nation and ensure safety of our citizens, not to win a few extra seats," he added.

.@BSYBJP ji, I beg to differ. We stand as one nation, action taken by our government is to safeguard our nation & ensure safety of our citizens, not to win a few extra seats. https://t.co/V06LBMAJH3

This speech by Atal ji highlights our position:https://t.co/UyhobIpAny

— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) February 28, 2019

Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has lent support to the central government and the armed forces in fight against terrorism. He also slammed Yeddyurappa over his 'strikes to favour BJP' statement.

The entire nation is united in supporting the central govt&our armed forces to fight terrorism,while #Bjp leader @BSYBJP is busy calculating howmany extra LS seats the terror attack&Pak war can bring to his party. It's shameful to exploit our jawans' sacrifice for electoral gains

— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) February 28, 2019

Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa has not only stirred the political circles here with his statement but has become the talk in Pakistan with Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf tweeting about it.

We hope you understand that you were manipulated into war mongering. #LetBetterSensePrevail; isolate the ppl who r desperate to win an election.War is in no nation’s interest,& its soldiers & civilians who are the collateral damage. Don’t let one man use it for political mileage. https://t.co/n538eDBnzf

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 28, 2019

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala took a dig at PM Modi over Yeddyurappa's statement that "India's preemptive strikes on terror camps in Pakistan has created a wave in favour of the prime minister".

Dear Modiji/ Jaitleyji,

Any more questions on politicisation?

Regards,
132 Crore Indians.https://t.co/RlbCNyRUY5

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 28, 2019

Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said India's preemptive strikes on terror camps in Pakistan has created a wave in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will help the party win over 22 of 28 seats in the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls. "The atmosphere....day by day the wind is increasingly blowing in favour of BJP. Tuesday's action of destroying terror hideouts by entering inside Pakistan has resulted in a pro-Modi wave in the country, the results of which can be seen in coming Lok Sabha polls," Yeddyurappa said. Speaking to reporters in Chitradurga, he said "It has enthused youths; all this will help us in winning more than 22 Lok Sabha seats (in Karnataka)."

Japan has urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and "stabilise the situation through dialogue".

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono: In response to the mounting tension due to the operations since 26 February between the Indian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force, Japan strongly urges India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and stabilize the situation through dialogue. https://t.co/mr9vP4krqR

— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2019

Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone his proposed mega-video conference, amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. The response came to a tweet by the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about the event to be held on Thursday. It said party chief Amit Shah and other leaders would participate in the programme at the Delhi BJP office in New Delhi.

I wud urge the PM to postpone this. At this moment, we as a nation, need to spend all our energies and time to get the IAF pilot back safely andto sternly deal wid Pak. https://t.co/HKgBeqSe8a

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 28, 2019

The chiefs of the armed forces on Wednesday updated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the security situation after Pakistani aircraft violated Indian airspace and an Indian pilot was taken into custody by the neighbouring country, sources said. The meeting of the chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force is their second with PM Modi in 24 hours. On Wednesday evening, the three chiefs met the prime minister at his official residence and updated him on the latest security scenario, the sources said. Earlier in the day, top security and intelligence officials went into a huddle at the prime minister's office in the wake of fresh developments that followed India's airstrike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities have suspended the Samjhauta Express train service between Pakistan and India until further notice, a media report said Thursday, amidst tense bilateral ties in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack. The train departs on Monday and Thursday from Lahore. The Samjhauta Express train service between Pakistan and India has been suspended until further notice, DawnNewsTV reported on Thursday citing railway authorities. The biweekly train was scheduled to depart from Lahore with 16 passengers. It embarked on its journey from Karachi but the passengers are stuck at Lahore railway station, the report said. The Samjhauta Express, named after the Hindi word for "agreement", comprises six sleeper coaches and an AC 3-tier coach. The train service was started on July 22, 1976 under the Shimla Agreement that settled the 1971 war between the two nations.

Russia also expressed serious concerns about the aggravation of the situation along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan and said Moscow was closely following the developments.

Amid the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, six nationals of the the neighbouring country, who came here on valid visa, are under vigilance of the local intelligence unit in the district, an official said on Thursday. Six Pakistani nationals had arrived here on February 12 and they have valid visa. They are to return to their country before March 27, the in-charge of local intelligence unit here said. They are under vigilance for the length of their stay here, he said.

Pakistan airspace's remains closed for a second day amid tensions between the two neighbours. All flight operations across the country have been suspended till midnight, Geo TV said quoting the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). "Since the existing NOTAM is effective until 2359HRS of February 28 , Pakistan airspace shall remain closed. Please stay in touch with your airlines for timely update on any further changes," the CAA tweeted.

Since the existing NOTAM is effective until 2359 HRS of 28 February 2019, #Pakistan airspace shall remain closed.

Please stay in touch with your airlines for timely update on any further changes.

PCAA regrets the inconvenience to its patrons. 🇵🇰 Paindabad! https://t.co/X84odwOHfp

— CAA Pakistan (@AirportPakistan) February 28, 2019

A day after Pakistan violated Indian air space, the benchmark BSE Sensex opened on a positive note on Thursday amid buying by domestic as well as foreign institutional investors ahead of February derivatives expiry. Investors, however, were cautious on concerns over the tension between India and Pakistan . The 30-share index was trading higher by 81.45 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 35,986.88. The gauge had lost 308 points in the previous two sessions. The NSE Nifty too was trading in the green, up 35.35 points, or 0.33 per cent, at 10,842. Major gainers that supported key indices were Coal India, Bharti Airtel, ONGC, Sun Pharma, PowerGrid, Asian Paint, RIL, Infosys, ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, SBI, Tata Motors, Yes Bank, HUL, HDFC Bank and Vedanta, rising up to 1.42 per cent.

India conveyed strong objection to Islamabad at the 'vulgar display' of an injured personnel in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.

An influential American Senator said Wednesday the Trump administration should stand ready to assist nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan in resolving the ongoing crisis peacefully between the two countries. Tensions between India and Pakistan rose following the February 14 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack. "The heightening tensions between Pakistan and India are deeply alarming. These two nuclear-armed states must commit to resolving this crisis peacefully, and the US should stand ready to assist," Senator Edward Markey said in a tweet.

Veteran Air Marshal and father of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has thanked people for their concern and wishes. "I thank God for his blessings. Abhi is alive, not injured, sound in mind. Just look at the way he talked so bravely. A true soldier. We are so proud of him. I am sure all your hands and blessings are on his head; prayers for his safe return. I pray that he does not get tortured, and comes home safe and sound in body and mind. Thank you all for being with us in this hour of need. We  draw our strengths from your support and energy," veteran Air Marshal Varthaman said. Pakistan captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after a fierce engagement between the two air forces.

The Delhi-Lahore bus service is running as usual, an official said on Wednesday. "The service is continuing. Even today, 10 persons boarded the Lahore-bound bus," Manoj Kumar, the managing director of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), told news agency PTI. In the aftermath of the Pulwama attack, the bus service was affected and the number of passengers using it had gone down. The DTC buses to Lahore are operated from the Ambedkar Stadium bus terminal near the Delhi Gate. These buses ply every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) runs buses to Delhi on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

PM Modi will chair the Cabinet Committee on Security today, followed by Union Cabinet meeting at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. The development comes after tension between India and Pakistan escalated after Indian fighter jets struck inside the neighbouring country's territory, destroying the biggest terrorist training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The air strike came after the February 14 terror attack by the JeM in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. An IAF pilot was captured by Pakistan after an air combat Wednesday during which the two sides said they shot down each other's warplanes that followed an unsuccessful attempt to target Indian military installations in retaliatory strikes that sparked fears of war.

Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mahmood Khan, has declared a "high alert" in the area, Karachi-based newspaper Dawn reported. “All departments concerned have been put on high alert across the province to cope with any type of emergency,” the report quoted Pakistan Information Minister as saying.

Dawn.com Reports Samjhauta Express Suspended | The Railways on Wednesday said the Samjhauta Express departed on time with 27 passengers onboard, amidst reports that Pakistan has suspended its operations between Wagah to Lahore on its side. "The train running from Delhi to Attari in India left at 11:20 pm on Wednesday. There are three Pakistanis and 24 Indian nationals aboard the train," Northern Railway said. The biweekly train, which runs on Wednesdays and Sundays, was as per schedule from the Old Delhi Railway station with 27 passengers aboard — four in AC coach, 23 in non-AC coaches — it said. However, Pakistan-based newspaper Dawn reported that the train was scheduled to carry 16 passengers from Lahore today. "It had embarked on its journey from Karachi but now the passengers are stuck at Lahore railway station," the report stated.

'India Will Not Keep Quiet' | India's Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, has said that India will not keep quiet to any act of terrorism and giving "appropriate response" to all terrorism incidents is the new normal for the country. In a first-of-its-kind interaction with Indian students from the various universities from the Greater Washington area, Shringla said that Pakistan needs to meet its international obligations to crackdown on terrorist networks and safe havens within its territory. Shringla updated the Indian students about the latest development back home and why India choose to act this way, after the Pulwama terrorist attack. He said that Pakistan did not act against terrorist organisations or its leaders despite India giving actionable intelligence against the 26/11, Pathankot and Uri attacks. "This time, India opted for pre-emptive attack, mainly because terrorists were planning to launch another terrorist attack inside India, he said referring to the daring air strike by Indian Air Force deep inside Pakistan. 

The US, the UK and France have moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Pakistan-based terror group JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, a listing that will subject him to global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. The fresh proposal was moved Wednesday by the three permanent veto-wielding members of the 15-nation Security Council. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will have 10 working days to consider the fresh proposal submitted by the three members. The proposal is the fourth such bid at the UN in the last 10 years to list Azhar as a global terrorist. In 2009, India moved a proposal to designate Azhar, whose UN-proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the suicide attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama on February 14 in which over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed.

Jet Airways has asked passengers to check their flight status before leaving as "India will not be flying over Pakistan due to security concerns".

#9Wupdate
We request our guests to check their flight status prior to leaving for the airport: https://t.co/aT3wpZexyr pic.twitter.com/aiNbVTOXHw

— Jet Airways (@jetairways) February 28, 2019

Pakistani Kashmiris flee the town of Chakoti which is about 3 miles, 5 km, from the Pakistan-Indian border, following the intense exchange of fire between Pakistan and India, at the Line of Control in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), reports Associated Press.

This was the third attempt to put Masood Azhar, the leader and founder of JeM on the UN terror blacklist by which he would be subjected to a global travel ban, arms embargo and assets freeze.

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah extended support to PMO to get back captured IAF pilot from Pakistan.

I, along with other Indians, urge @PMOIndia to #BringBackAbhinandan. We Indians are united in its single agenda of bringing back the airforce soldier to India. I assure any support from our side for the cause.
Jai Hind! Jai Jawan!@INCKarnataka

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 28, 2019

Meanwhile, Pakistan violated ceasefire at 6 am today in Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control in Poonch district. News agency ANI stated that Indian Army retaliated effectively and firing stopped around 7 am.

Amid the escalating tensions between the neighbours, citizens and prominent faces of both India and Pakistan are appealing for peace. Among them were Pakistan Peoples Party leader Farhatullah Babar and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram.

World can't afford another war.Observe good faith and justice towards all nations.Cultivate peace and harmony with all.We need peace and friendship with other nations not your revenges and act of creating enmity against people from other nations for your sake #SayNoToWar #Sialkot pic.twitter.com/GxaOdUPLUq

— heyram (@heyram_akrs) February 27, 2019

Tit for tat strikes, symbolic targeting of unspecified targets and urge to demonstrate capability can quickly get out of control. Sight of self congratulating anchors on both sides hooting for war is nauseating. A credible mechanism for joint investigations needed

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) February 28, 2019

With my heavy heart I appeal to yours, India,Pakistan is not your enemy, Your enemy is our enemy! How much more blood needs to be spilled before we realise we are both fighting the same battle.We need brothers in arm if we want to beat this war on terror #TogetherWeWin #NoToWar

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) February 27, 2019