Panicky Pak Air Chief Mujahid Khan says 'Challenges not over yet' after IAF Chief BS Dhanoa makes clear that operation against Pakistan is 'ongoing'

Pakistan Air Force Chief on Monday asked his officers to keep their "guard up" as the challenges facing the country "are not over yet", amid heightened tensions with India following the Pulwama terror attack and aerial combat between the two forces.

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan made the remarks during a visit to the forward operating bases (FOB), where he met combat and ground crew, air defence and engineering personnel, troops and civilian staff, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesperson was quoted as saying by a local newspaper. 

Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir on February 14.

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Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s.

"The challenges are not over yet, and we should keep our guards up and always be ready to respond to any aggression from the adversary," Khan said, referring to the Indian air strikes in Balakot.

Although tensions may have seemed to be fading, earlier on Monday, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa when questioned on the IAF counter-terror strikes in Balakot and the aerial confrontation with Pakistan Air Force refused to answer on the 'on-going operation' 

The comment that indicated that the operation against terror has not concluded, as he said, "I will not comment on ongoing operations but they are still ongoing."

During the address, the IAF Chief confirmed to have hit the target putting to rest all the speculations against the credibility of the counter-terrorism air-strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit 

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He said, "The target has been clearly amplified by the foreign secretary in his statement. If we plan to hit the target then we hit the target. Otherwise, why would he have responded? If we have dropped bombs in the jungle then there is no need for him to respond."  

(With PTI inputs)