Indian radars detected a large-sized Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and package of four Pakistani F-16 jets flying close to the Indian border in Khemkaran sector in Punjab in the wee hours on Monday, reported news agency ANI quoting sources. However it wasn’t not clear if they intended to cross the border.
India scrambled Su-30 MKIs and Mirage jets in response after which the Pakistani jets retreated further to their territory.
After tension rose between India and Pakistan following the 26 February air strike by the Indian Air Force on a terror camp in Balakot, several Pakistani drones have been shot down along the border.
The IAF had reportedly shot down an F-16 on 27 February after a large package of PAF fighters tried to enter the Indian air space in the Rajouri area of the Line of Control (LoC) and fired on Indian military installations.
An IAF MiG-21 got hit in a dogfight and its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistan. The pilot was returned, easing tensions, but the two sides have remained in high state of alert with force mobilisation across land, air and sea.
Earlier, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa had said the forces remain in full preparedness even after India and Pakistan pulled back from the brink.
(With inputs from IANS)
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