Pakistani jet fighters fly close to LoC in Poonch

Jammu: An air alert was sounded along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir after Pakistani fighter jets were detected close to the LoC.

Defence Ministry sources said that Indian air defence systems detected the Pakistani jets 10 km inside the LoC on the Pakistan side in Poonch.

“This is the first time after the Indian Air Force scrambled to push back Pakistani fighter jets which entered our air space in Nowshera sector on February 27 that Pakistani fighter jets flew this close to the LoC,” an official said.

India lost a Mig-21 Bison and its pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistan while a Pakistani F-16 jet was downed by Abhinandan before his fighter jet was shot down.

IANS