Published 21:41 IST, February 27th 2019
Indian forces given a free hand to retaliate following Pakistan's act of war in Indian airspace, says sources
After Pakistan's violation of the Indian airspace and a military retaliation to a counter-terrorism operation by India on UN-designated Jaish-e-Mohammed camps, pertaining to the tightening tensions between the two Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with IAF, Navy, Army chiefs and agency chiefs on Wednesday.
- India News
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 90-minute long meeting with IAF, Navy, Army chiefs and agency chiefs on Wednesday following the tightening tensions between India and Pakistan after the latter violated India's airspace to retaliate over India's counter-terrorism operation on UN-designated Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit on Tuesday.
According to sources, the meeting encompassed the events of the day wherein the IAF thwarted Pakistani F-16 jets that had violated Indian airspace in Lam Valley, Nowshera sector in an effort to attack India's military installation.
During the meeting, as per top sources, NSA Ajit Doval provided a report on the Indian Air Force pilot who has been taken into Pakistani custody after his MIG-21 was lost in the counter-operation that saw one Pakistani F-16 being shot down. As per sources, three different reports have been submitted to PM Modi - one each by the three chiefs of the Indian Defence.
At the meeting, it was also highlighted to the Prime Minister that whereas India's air strike on Tuesday was restricted to a counter-terrorism operation and attacked only the JeM terror camps, Pakistan's retaliation was an act of war as it targeted India's defence forces, responding over which, Republic TV has learnt, PM Modi has given a free hand to the defence forces to retaliate.
A stand that the government had taken in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack that martyred 40 CRPF jawans.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement heavily censuring Pakistan's 'unprovoked act of aggression' against India, earlier on Wednesday by violating Indian airspace and targetting India's military installation; further giving Pakistan an ultimatum by demanding 'safe and immediate' return of the Indian Air Force pilot.
The letter articulated that Pakistan's aggression stood in contrast to India's counter-terrorist strike on the UN-designated Jaish-e-Mohammed lavish camps within the borders of Pakistan.
It pointed out that Pakistan failed to satisfy its international obligation and bilateral allegiance to take plausible steps against terror organisations and individuals operating from their soil.
It further emphasised that India reserves the right to take a decisive action to protect its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity against cross-border terrorism.
It also underlined how India expressed its regret over repeated denial of Pakistan government and military at the presence of terror outfits within the borders of Pakistan in its control. It further revealed how India had handed over a dossier specifying details of 'JeM complicity in Pulwama terror attack and presence of JeM terror camps'.
Yet again, India entailed Pakistan to take action against 'terrorism emanating from territories under its control'
Updated 22:58 IST, February 27th 2019