Former Pakistani foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, has accused India of “calling out war” amid escalating tensions in Kashmir. Pakistan confirmed it shot down two Indian warplanes claiming they entered Pakistani airspace. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ms Khar claimed the action from Pakistan was “retaliatory”.
She said: “This was in some way you could consider it to be a retaliatory action for the aggression that was imposed on Pakistan in the early hours of the morning yesterday.
“As we all know we are all bound by the UN charter, which protects our international boundaries, which protects our sovereign integrity.
“India is claiming to come within Pakistani airspace and therefore inside our international border, disrespecting it, and taking action against what it allegedly called camps and we have evidence we have shown to both local and foreign journalists, and everyone else is welcome to come. It was just plain ground that India put its payload on before exiting Pakistani airspace.
“That is what I would call a very very inflammatory action, and frankly speaking, is calling out war.”
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Pakistan said they shot down two Indian warplanes adding they crossed into Pakistan airspace.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said: “Today, Pakistan Air Force undertook strikes across Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace.”
Major General Asif Ghafoor, tweeted: “PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace.”
Ghafoor added that one aircraft fell on India’s side of the Kashmir, while the second came down in Pakistani-held territory, and its pilot was captured.
It came after Pakistani warplanes were allegedly intercepted by the Indian airforce and forced to turn back and re-enter Pakistani airspace.
Ghafoor later told a press conference: “This was not a retaliation in true sense, but to tell Pakistan has capability, we can do it, but we want to be responsible, we don’t want an escalation, we don’t want a war.”
The escalation followed an Indian airstrike that targeted a militant camp in Balakot inside Pakistan on Tuesday.
Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale claimed a “large number” of militants were killed during these strikes. But, Pakistan disputes the claim, saying none were killed.
The strikes from India targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), who claimed responsibility of a suicide bombing which killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers in Kashmir earlier this month.
India accused Pakistan of allowing militant groups to operate on its territory. Pakistan has claimed the militant camps do not exist.
Kashmir is split between sections under Indian and Pakistani control.
The two nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two wars over the territory since gaining their independence from the UK in 1947.