India Shoots Down Pak F-16 Jet

New Delhi: A Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jet that had intruded the Indian air space was shot down this morning, news agency ANI said quoting sources.

About three Pakistani jets had intruded the Indian air space in the Nowshera sector, reports suggested. The F-16s were confronted by the Indian Air Force fighter jets. One of the F-16s was knocked out in the exchange of fire. Some media reports suggested the jet fell in the Pakistan side of the border.

No official confirmation has come from the government so far.

Conflicting reports emerging from Pakistan said they also shot down two IAF fighter jets and captured one of the pilots alive.

“Today, Pakistan Air Force undertook strikes across Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Earlier, Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistani army, said Indian jets had entered Pakistan in response and two had been shot down, with one pilot captured.

On Tuesday, India launched an air attack inside Pakistan’s Balakot killing over 300 terrorists at a training camp, raising the risk of conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Reports also suggested that Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were closed for civilian traffic shortly after the IAF jet crashed in Budgam district.

“The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency,” news agency PTI said quoting an Airport Authority of India official. International flight movements over the northern territory were also partially affected.