Pakistan on February 26 categorically rejected Indian claim of carrying out an airstrike in the Pakistani territory and killing 350 terrorists, declaring the incursion just a ‘dry run’ that was effectively and immediately repulsed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), reports Daily Times. “Today, the prime minister has asked everyone to get ready for every eventuality. We are all ready. Now it is time for India to wait for our response,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press conference. “The response will come at a point and time of our choosing, where our civil-military leadership decides, and as a matter of fact, has decided,” he added.
ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor said that the Indian fighter jets attempted to intrude from three sectors including Sialkot-Lahore, Okara-Bahawalpur and Kiran in Muzaffarabad, which were timely spotted and repulsed by Pakistan’s regular Combat Air Patrol (CAP) teams, he said. He said after the Pulwama incident, tensions mounted and Pakistan started carrying out regular CAP missions to effectively respond to any aggression, under which one or two CAP missions used to remain airborne all the time.
“Last night, our radars were observing them. They had earlier come closer to our border but did not cross it. Last night, their first visibility was observed near the Sialkot and Lahore border. They were seen approaching the border. Our Combat Air Patrol (CAP) team approached and challenged them. They did not cross,” he said. “As per the SOP (standard operating procedure), when the first team got committed there, the next CAP team was automatically airborne. During this, another one of their formation was picked in Bahawalpur sector. The second standby team went down south and challenged it. We then observed that the heavier of their teams was approaching Muzaffarabad sector from Kiran Valley. When our third CAP team challenged them, they had crossed the LoC,” he added. “Their approaching of the border, the challenge and their return took four minutes,” he asserted.