India had hit the biggest Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot, which India said was training suicide bombers for another attack on India

by Manu Pubby

The ministry of external affairs indicated that the attack was an escalatory step

NEW DELHI: India considers the Pakistani air action against its military assets on Wednesday morning to be an escalatory act of aggression, a notch above India’s non-military preemptive strikes that targeted terrorists and not any Pakistani military asset.

India had hit the biggest Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot, which India said was training suicide bombers for another attack on India.

Those familiar with the details of Pakistan’s attack told ET that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighters, which included 10 F-16s, came with the intent of striking specific military installations but failed and their bombs fell short of the target.

In the ensuing air battle, an Indian Air Force MiG-21 is believed to have chased and brought down an F-16 fighter. While doing so, sources said, the pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, crossed the Line of Control (LoC). His plane was hit and he was captured by Pakistani forces.

Later, India summoned the Pakistan deputy high commissioner to protest this escalatory attack and demanded immediate release of the pilot.

PM Narendra Modi was briefed in detail by national security adviser Ajit Doval and the chiefs of the intelligence agencies and armed forces about the developments on Wednesday, including attempted strikes by PAF on military installations and the missing IAF pilot. It is believed that Modi has given a free hand to the armed forces, and a diplomatic offensive will be initiated to secure the release of the pilot.

New Delhi objected to videos of the captured pilot being released for propaganda purposes.

“India also strongly objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an injured IAF personnel in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention. It was made clear that Pakistan would be well advised to ensure no harm comes to the Indian defence personnel in its custody. India also expects his immediate and safe return,” a statement read.

In its demarche, Delhi conveyed to Islamabad that it “reserves the right to take firm and decisive action to protect its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity against any act of aggression or cross-border terrorism”.

The ministry of external affairs indicated that the attack was an escalatory step. “Against this (Balakot) Counter Terrorism Action, Pakistan has responded this morning by using its air force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled successfully,” said the MEA spokesperson.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, meanwhile, raised the possibility of miscalculation if things went out of control, seemingly referring to the nuclear option.

“I ask India — with the weapons you have and the weapons we have, can we really afford a miscalculation? If this escalates, it will no longer be in my control or in (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s,” Khan said.

Pakistan has also denied losing any of its fighters in the air battle.

In a separate incident, a Mi-17 V-5 helicopter crashed at Budgam, near Srinagar, resulting in the death of six crew members.

The action started in the morning at around 10.05 am when at least three Pakistani fighter jets intruded into Indian air space, targeting an Indian brigade headquarters, ammunition dumps and administrative bases in the Laamb and Keri sectors in Rajouri.

Indian officials said that the intrusion was responded to by the Air Force and designs by the Pakistani jets to target military installations were foiled. At least four bombs were dropped by the Pakistani jets on the Indian side, without any damage on the ground.

Pakistan claimed that its jets deliberately did not engage the Indian ground formations as they wanted to only demonstrate its capability to respond.