India and Pakistan are on the brink of a major confrontation after the latter claimed to have shot down two Indian fighter jets in response to the bombing of alleged “terror” targets inside Pakistan.
Tensions have risen since a suicide car bombing by Pakistan-based armed group, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in Indian-administered Kashmir killed at least 42 Indian paramilitary forces on February 14.
But the risk of an all-out conflict rose dramatically on Tuesday when India launched air raids on what it said was a JeM training base.
On Wednesday morning, New Delhi and Islamabad were engaged in a battle of conflicting military claims.
At least four Pakistani civilians were killed late on Tuesday in the cross-border fire between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals.
Pakistani military now says it has one Indian pilot
Pakistani Armed Forces spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor, has said the Pakistani army holds just one Indian pilot.
In an earlier comment, the military said it had two members of the Indian armed forces in custody. India says it has one pilot unaccounted for.
Imran Khan urges “wisdom”, offers dialogue
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan says his country is ready for dialogue with India and urges the need for “better sense to prevail”.
“I am addressing India. It is very important that we use wisdom,” Khan says in a televised address, emphasising that several countries have ended up at war in the past due to a lack of dialogue.
He stresses the need for the two nuclear-armed countries to remain cool-headed and to cooperate on security in the disputed Kashmir, saying “we will go and fight with you against terrorism”.
India says it shot down one Pakistani fighter jet and lost one of its own
India says it shot down one Pakistani fighter jet and lost one of its own to Pakistan.
Pakistan claims to have shot down two Indian warplanes.