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India 'entered Pakistan airspace' | India 'entered Pakistan airspace' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Pakistan has said two Indian warplanes violated its airspace on Saturday, but that there was no cause for alarm as the incursions had been "inadvertent". | Pakistan has said two Indian warplanes violated its airspace on Saturday, but that there was no cause for alarm as the incursions had been "inadvertent". |
They flew up to 7.4km into the Lahore and Azad Kashmir sectors, it said. | They flew up to 7.4km into the Lahore and Azad Kashmir sectors, it said. |
Information Minister Sherry Rehman said Pakistan's air force remained "on alert and ready to face any eventuality, but we do not expect this to escalate". | Information Minister Sherry Rehman said Pakistan's air force remained "on alert and ready to face any eventuality, but we do not expect this to escalate". |
An Indian Air Force spokesman denied the allegation, saying "there has not been any airspace violation". | |
Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani told Reuters news agency that the Pakistani accusations were an attempt to divert "the attention of the people towards something which has not happened". | |
Last week, India's foreign minister denied making a "threatening" phone call that prompted Pakistan to put its forces on alert following the co-ordinated attacks by militants in Mumbai, which left more than 170 people dead. | |
Pranab Mukherjee said the call was a hoax which Pakistan was using to divert attention from the fact its nationals had been involved in the attacks. | Pranab Mukherjee said the call was a hoax which Pakistan was using to divert attention from the fact its nationals had been involved in the attacks. |
'No need for alarm' | 'No need for alarm' |
The director of public relations for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said the Indian aircraft had violated Pakistani airspace on two separate occasions on Saturday. | The director of public relations for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said the Indian aircraft had violated Pakistani airspace on two separate occasions on Saturday. |
"Both the Indian aircraft entered into Pakistan's airspace between two to four nautical miles at two different sectors," Air Commodore Humyun Viqar told Associated Press of Pakistan news agency. | "Both the Indian aircraft entered into Pakistan's airspace between two to four nautical miles at two different sectors," Air Commodore Humyun Viqar told Associated Press of Pakistan news agency. |
He said Pakistani jets had responded, forcing the Indian aircraft to turn back. | He said Pakistani jets had responded, forcing the Indian aircraft to turn back. |
Pakistan's information minister confirmed the incursion and said officials had "spoken to the Indian air force and they have said it was inadvertent". | Pakistan's information minister confirmed the incursion and said officials had "spoken to the Indian air force and they have said it was inadvertent". |
"Our air force is on alert and ready to face any eventuality, but we do not expect this to escalate," Ms Rehman said. "There is no need for alarm." | "Our air force is on alert and ready to face any eventuality, but we do not expect this to escalate," Ms Rehman said. "There is no need for alarm." |
Correspondents say the Indian air force has been very careful in recent years to stop its warplanes from straying into Pakistani airspace. | Correspondents say the Indian air force has been very careful in recent years to stop its warplanes from straying into Pakistani airspace. |
Two jets were shot down during the Kargil conflict in 1999, although India says they were in its own airspace at the time. | Two jets were shot down during the Kargil conflict in 1999, although India says they were in its own airspace at the time. |
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