J&K: Pak jets violate Indian airspace in Poonch, Nowshera sectors; pushed back

Pakistani fighter jets on Wednesday violated Indian air space in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Nowshera sectors but were pushed back by Indian aircraft, senior officials said.

Soon after the alert, civilian air traffic to and fro Srinagar airport was suspended, officials said.

This comes a day after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes in Pakistan to destroy terrorist training camps and killed a "large number" of terrorists.

The Pakistani jets even dropped bombs while returning, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. The fighter jets entered the border areas of Poonch and Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, senior officials said. However, they were pushed back by Indian aircraft, the senior officials added.

Pakistan Air Force's F-16 that violated Indian air space shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3KM within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector. Parachute seen as Pakistan Air Force's F-16 was going down, the condition of the pilot is unknown. 

"The jets entered Indian air space over Nowshera and Poonch sectors this morning," officials said. They were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol. 

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said its "Air Force undertook strikes across Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace."

"This was not a retaliation to continued Indian belligerence. Pakistan has therefore, taken strikes at non military target, avoiding human loss and collateral damage. Sole purpose being to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence," Pak MOFA said in the statement.

"We have no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm," it said. 

(With PTI inputs)