An Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan remains in Pakistan’s custody following an aerial engagement between Indian and Pakistani jets on Wednesday.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said it lost a MiG 21 and that pilot was 'missing in action'. It also said its Air Force shot down a Pakistani fighter aircraft - a claim denied by Pakistan.
"India had informed about counter-terrorism action it took yesterday (Tuesday) against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan based on credible evidence that JeM intended to launch more attacks," Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.
"Against this 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.
“The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force.
“The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side.
“In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody.” Mr Kumar said.
Pakistan denies one of its aircraft was shot down however it did admit that Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan was in Pakistan Army’s custody.
“Wing Comd Abhi Nandan is being treated as per norms of military ethics,” Major General Asif Ghafoor, the spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces announced on Twitter.
No harm should come to the IAF pilot, India demands
India has also strongly objected to the video of the injured pilot circulated widely on social media, where he is seen blindfolded and wounded in one video and later sipping tea and saying that "officers of the Pakistani army have looked after me well" in another video.
In an official release, India said it “objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of injured personnel of the Indian Air Force in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions.
In a meeting with the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, India’s MEA has demanded the Indian Air Force pilot’s immediate and safe return.
“It was made clear that Pakistan would be well advised to ensure that no harm comes to the Indian defence personnel in its custody. India also expects his immediate and safe return,” the statement read.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says tensions with India could ease with dialogue (Reuters) Source: Reuters
“Let’s talk”, says Pakistan
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked India for dialogue as hostilities between the two nations escalates.
"Our action was only intended to convey that if you can come into our country, we can do the same... Two of their MiGs were shot down (in the ensuing action). From here, it is imperative that we use our heads and act with wisdom," Imran Khan said in a televised statement.
"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 Modi's."
"We invite you for dialogue... better sense must prevail," he added.
Pakistan has so far not issued any statement on releasing the Indian Air Force pilot.
What are the Geneva Conventions?
The Geneva Conventions are a series of treaties concluded in Geneva between 1864 and 1949 for the purpose of ameliorating the effects of war on soldiers and civilians.
The third Geneva Convention required that belligerents treat prisoners of war (PoWs) humanely, furnish information about them, and permit official visits to prison camps by representatives of neutral states. This came to be known as the Convention Relating to Treatment of Prisoners of War, 1929.
It asserted that PoWs be given humane treatment and adequate feeding, forbidding the belligerents to apply undue pressure on prisoners to supply more than a minimum of information.
Marise Payne expressed her concern over the escalation of the India, Pakistan conflict. (AAP) Source: AAP
Australia urges 'restraint'
Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she was very concerned by the reports of the escalation in the conflict, with both countries launching air strikes in the past two days.
"If those reports are correct, we would certainly urge both sides to exercise restraint. To avoid further military action, this is a dangerous cycle of escalation," Senator Payne said.
"I would encourage direct dialogue between both countries to endeavour to resolve these matters in a peaceful way."
Senator Payne said, "the cycle of escalation ... is very dangerous for all concerned".
India has been on high alert after IAF fighter jets struck an alleged training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot, around 80 km from the Line of Control, in a pre-dawn strike on Tuesday.
The site near Pulwama where a suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a convoy of Indian troops, killing at least 40 in February. Source: Reuters
New Delhi said it was a "non-military and pre-emptive" strike based on credible intelligence inputs that Jaish was training militants for more attacks like Pulwama in India.
Over 40 soldiers were killed on February 14 when a suicide bomber attacked an Indian security convoy in Pulwama, in India-administered Kashmir.
