The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) intercepted and repelled four Indian Rafale fighter jets patrolling close to the Line of Control (LoC) late Tuesday night. The Indian aircraft were flying over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) when they were swiftly detected by Pakistani jets, prompting a rapid and coordinated response that forced them to retreat.
This development unfolded amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. In reaction to the incident, India suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty, leading Pakistan to warn of suspending the Simla Agreement and shutting its airspace to Indian flights.
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Information Minister Atta Tarar has cautioned that credible intelligence indicates India may be preparing for a military strike within the next 24 to 36 hours, allegedly using the Pahalgam attack as a pretext. He criticised New Delhi’s unilateral actions as destabilising and reckless, warning of serious regional consequences.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s call for an independent investigation into the Pahalgam incident while emphasising Islamabad’s commitment to peace and regional stability. Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement in the attack and stressed the need for restraint from all parties.
