New Delhi: A Pakistani drone was shot down by IAF fighter jets with an air-to-air missile Monday, after it violated Indian air space over Anupgarh in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, defence sources told ThePrint.
At around 11.30 am, the sources said, Indian radars picked up an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Indian air space.
Two fighter jets were immediately deployed by the IAF, the sources added, and the UAV subsequently shot down with an air-to-air missile.
According to the sources, the UAV was spotted in an area where, on 27 February, the Pakistan Air Force had attempted to intrude with 10-12 aircraft. In that incident, they said, the aircraft were challenged by IAF fighters on combat patrol and kept from breaching Indian air space.
Meanwhile, several Pakistanis alleged on Twitter Monday that the IAF had breached Pakistan’s air space and carried out bombings near Fort Abbas in Pakistani Punjab. Fort Abbas stands almost exactly opposite Anupgarh, at a similar distance from the international border.
India bombing near pak India boarder 247/H.L Fort Abbas district bahawel nager contact
— Mubasher AminⓂ️ (@momi270) March 4, 2019
BREAKING: Unconfirmed reports from Pakistani sources saying Indian Air Force has dropped bombs near Fort Abbas, Pakistan.
— F. Jeffery 👁 (@Natsecjeff) March 4, 2019
Speaking to ThePrint, Indian Air Force (IAF) sources denied the charge. Later, some other Pakistanis pointed out, also via Twitter, that the objects believed to have been fragments of IAF bombs were actually parts of an external fuel tank, dropped by Pakistan Air Force jets.
Today dated 4-3-19 at 1100 hours blasts were heard in general area 247-HR near Toba Shahwan wala PS Fort Abbass.
PAF experts after inquiry have stated that our crafts dropped EFTs ( extra fuel tanks) during their flights in the area. No cross border violation took place.
— Major (R) Usman (@pkclusterupdate) March 4, 2019
Today dated 4-3-19 at 1100 hours blasts were heard in general area 247-HR near Toba Shahwan wala PS Fort Abbass. #PAF experts after inquiry have stated that our crafts dropped EFTs ( extra fuel tanks) during their flights in the area. No cross border violation took place.
— S A Khan (@sajjadnwa) March 4, 2019
On high alert
The Indian Air Force, Army and Navy have been on high alert since an escalation in India-Pakistan tensions last week.
On 26 February, 12 days after the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack, the IAF had carried out air strikes on one of the largest training camps of the terror group in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
The Pakistan Air Force retaliated the next day, but was unsuccessful in its attempts to target Indian military installations near the Line of Control (LoC) after a dogfight with the IAF.
On 28 February, in a rare joint press conference, the three services said they were on high alert and ready to thwart any Pakistani plan.
At a press conference Monday, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa referred to the 27 February dogfight, describing it as an “ongoing operation”.
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