Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 3: India today scrambled its fighter jets in Poonch sector after observing movement of Pakistani jets flying close to the Line of Control (LoC) within their territory in Bhimber Gali sector of Poonch district while cross-LoC trade remained suspended for second consecutive day even as there was no ceasefire violation today.
Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand, however, said that there was no air space violation on the LoC today.
Reports said India scrambled fighter jets on the LoC in Bhimber Gali sector of Poonch district immediately after detecting movement of jets on Pakistan side of the LoC at about 10 am today.
“The Pakistani fighter jets immediately retreated from the LoC after observing quick movement of the Indian jets,” sources said.
This was for the second time during last three days that Pakistani jets flew close to the borders only to be forced to retreat by the Indian fighters.
On wee hours of Monday morning, Pakistani F-16s had flown close to Khemkaran sector on the International Border (IB) in Punjab. However, Indian fighter jets were immediately scrambled and F-16 retreated to their bases.
Indian Air Force has been on high alert since February 26 when they had conducted air strikes at Balakote in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in which large number of terrorists were killed. On February 27, Pakistan jets had lobbed few bombs on the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in which one Pakistani F-16 were shot down by the Indian Air Force, which has lost one MiG-21 Bison.
Meanwhile, there was no ceasefire violation on the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri today.
On Monday, a BSF Inspector and two civilians including an infant were martyred and 24 others were injured in Poonch district in Pakistan shelling while yesterday, three Pakistani troops were killed and their seven posts were destroyed in the Indian Army retaliation.
There have been reports that Pakistan army has suffered heavy casualties and infrastructural losses in Indian retaliatory action.
Meanwhile, cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route, which was suspended yesterday following heavy shelling and firing from Pakistan side, didn’t resume today.
“The trade remained suspended for second consecutive day today,” sources said, pointing out that 35 trucks were stranded in Poonch yesterday due to suspension of trade between two parts of the divided State.
A decision on resumption of trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route will be taken by the administration tomorrow morning.
PTI adds from Islamabad Pakistan today summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and condemned the “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by the Indian forces along the Line of Control which resulted in the killings.
Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, who is also the Director General (South Asia & SAARC), summoned Ahluwalia and “condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations” by the Indian forces along the LoC on April 1 and 2, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
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