Pakistan Says Indian Air Force Crossed LoC, Dropped Payload

India hit terror camps across the Line of Control on Tuesday, a move Pakistan has called a violation of the LoC. 

On Tuesday morning, the Indian Air Force crossed the LoC and hastily “dropped payload” near Balakot, Pakistan said. 

Pakistan Army spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said the Pakistan Air Force responded to the intrusion immediately.

Ghafoor tweeted: 

“The Indian aircrafts’ intrusion across LoC in Muzafarabad Sector within AJ&K was 3-4 miles,” he said.

Ghafoor also posted images of the open space where the payload was allegedly dropped. He said there had been no casualties or damage.

The statement from Pakistan came amid reports  that Indian jets struck a terrorist camp across the LoC and destroyed it. 

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale confirmed India had struck the biggest Jaish-e-Mohammad  training camp in Balakot on Tuesday morning. India said a large number of terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis were eliminated in the strike.

ANI reported that the Air Force had put all air defence systems along the international border and LoC on high alert to respond to any possible action by Pakistan Air Force. 

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted in support of Air Force pilots.

The strike comes days after the Pulwama terror attack on 14 February in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed . Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated further since the attack for which India has blamed its neighbour. 

After the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said security forces were given a free hand to avenge it.

On 24 February, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan asked Modi to “give peace a chance” and assured him that he “stands by” his words and will “immediately act” if New Delhi provides Islamabad with “actionable intelligence” on the Pulwama attack.