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2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes

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2019 India–Pakistan standoff
Part of the Indo-Pakistani conflicts and the Kashmir conflict

The Map of Line of Control
Date14 February 2019 – ongoing
(5 years and 4 months)
Location
Line of Control
Status Ongoing
Belligerents

 India

JeM (Claimed by India)

 Pakistan

Casualties and losses
40–46 CRPF killed[1][2] and 70 wounded[3]
5–10 soldiers wounded[4][5]
1 MiG-21 shot down (Indian claim) and pilot captured[6][7]
2 fighter jets shot down (Pakistani claim)[8][9][10]		 350 killed (Indian claim)[11]
None killed (Pakistani claim)[12][13]		 1 F-16 and 1 UAV shot down (Indian claim)[14][15]
4–6 Pakistani civilians killed and 11 injured[16][17][18]

The 2019 India–Pakistan standoff is an ongoing Indo-Pakistani conflict in Jammu and Kashmir.

On 14 February, a militant from Jammu and Kashmir killed 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force members. The attack was claimed by Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Pakistan condemned the attack and denied any involvement.[19]

On 26 February, the Indian Air Force conducted airstrikes over the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir, the first since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Indian sources claimed that the strikes had killed 350 militants,[11] a claim which has been disputed by the local residents of the targeted area.[20]

On 26 and 27 February, India and Pakistan exchanged fire across the LOC. Ten Indian soldiers were injured in the skirmishes.[5] Four Pakistani civilians were killed in the shelling.[18]

On 27 February, Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Indian administered Kashmir. India said the airstrikes did not cause any casualties or damage.[21] Pakistan claimed that two Indian jets were shot down over Pakistani airspace and one pilot captured. India said that only one MiG-21 was lost and demanded the release of the pilot. India claimed to have shot down a Pakistani F-16, but Pakistan denied that. On 28 February, Pakistan said it would release the Indian pilot.[22]

Military events

Pulwama attack

Main article: 2019 Pulwama attack

The 2019 Indo-Pakistan military standoff started[23] in mid-February 2019, when a convoy of Central Reserve Police Force carrying security personnel on the Jammu Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora (near Awantipora) in the Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Over 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and the perpetrator were killed in the attack, which Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for. The attacker was identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, a local from Jammu and Kashmir, and a member of Jaish-e-Mohammed.[24] This was the deadliest attack on Indian forces by the anti-Indian insurgency in Kashmir.[25]

Balakot airstrike

Main article: 2019 Balakot airstrike

On 26 February 2019, India stated that its air force conducted airstrikes with the use of twelve Mirage 2000 jets flown from different airbases. India claimed the jets flew deep into Pakistan-administered Kashmir, crossing the Line of Control in Kashmir, and dropped several 1,000 kilogram bombs on terror training centres and launch pads. India said the airstrike was in retaliation to the Pulwama attack, which took place two weeks prior to the strike. Indian official sources stated that the jets struck Jaish-e-Mohammed-operated, Lashkar-e-Taiba-operated and Hizbul Mujahideen-operated militant camps in Balakot, Chakothi and Muzaffarabad,[26] killing a large number of militants (reported to be around 350) and returned to Indian airspace unharmed. Pakistani officials denied this course of events and claimed that the bombs were dropped in unpopulated areas and resulted in no casualties, infrastructural or other damage.[27] This airstrike was the first time since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 that aerial attacks had crossed the Line of Control.[25] Pervez Khattak, Pakistani Defence Minister, stated that the Pakistani Air Force did not retaliate at that time because it was "too dark" and so "they could not gauge the extent of the damage".[28]

Western officials have questioned the existence of such large-scale training camps. They claimed that Pakistan no longer runs such camps and militants are spread out in small groups across the country. Analysts and diplomats from New Delhi claim that the target of Indian airstrike is unclear, as terrorist groups along the border would have vacated the area after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to retaliate.[29]
Villagers from the area claimed that they heard three or four loud bangs, and that one building was damaged and a local man was lightly injured due to the airstrikes, which the villagers said hit a forest.[30][31][32]

Border skirmishes

Heavy skirmishes between Pakistani and Indian forces occurred along the Line of Control on 26 February, with small arms and mortar fire being exchanged.[33] Pakistani officials reported that at least four civilians were killed, and eleven were wounded.[34][35] A 55-year-old woman and her two children (aged 20 and 8 years old) were killed in the Nakyal sector. In the Khuiratta sector, a 40-year-old woman was killed.[34]

Throughout 27 February, heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani forces continued along the Line of Control.[36] The Pakistan Army reportedly used tanks across the LoC and the international border to engage in cross-border firing and mirror shelling, which resulted in 10 Indian soldiers being injured and two residential houses damaged.[5]

Airstrikes and aircraft shot down

On 27 February, Pakistani military officials announced that Pakistan had carried out an airstrike against multiple targets in Jammu and Kashmir. A military spokesman claimed that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had hit six locations and the targets were non-military to avoid "human loss and collateral damage."[37][38] The spokesman further claimed that Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian aircraft after they encroached on Pakistan's airspace. Adding that one of the jets fell in Pakistan administered Kashmir, while the other fell in Indian administered Kashmir.[39][40] It was also claimed that Pakistan Army had captured two Indian pilots, but later the statement was revised to only one pilot being in custody.[37] The pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, is a Wing Commander and a MiG-21 Bison pilot.[7][41] India initially contradicted Pakistan's claim of capturing a pilot;[42] subsequently the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed[14] that an Indian pilot was missing in action after a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane was lost while engaging with Pakistani jets after they violated Indian airspace.[43]

The Indian military claimed that the Pakistan Air Force had dropped bombs which caused no damage or casualties.[21] The affected areas identified by the Indian military were Nadian, Laam Jhangar, Kerri in Rajouri District and Hamirpur area of Bhimber Galli in Poonch. According to the Indian military, three Pakistan Air Force jets had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir. They were however pushed back by six Indian airforce jets.[44][45][46] Raveesh Kumar from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that a Pakistani aircraft was shot down by the Indian Air Force after it violated India's airspace.[14][25] ANI reported that an F-16 was shot down.[47] On 28 February, a picture of an aircraft wreckage in Pakistan administered Kashmir was claimed by IAF sources as the wreckage of the PAF F-16 shot down by the IAF Mig-21.[48] Indian Air Force later presented wreckage of AIM-120 AMRAAM to show involvement of F-16s in the air conflict and said that F-16s are the only aircraft in Pakistan's inventory that could fire this missile.[49]

Indian military claims were rejected by Pakistan's ISPR branch,[25] who claimed that no Pakistan Air Force jet was harmed in the attack and that F-16s were not used in the operation.[50] Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the airstrikes only aimed to "send a message" and Pakistan's plan was to cause "no casualties" on the Indian side.[51] India rejected this, saying it "successfully foiled" Pakistan's attempt to "target military installations".[52] Imran Khan also appealed for negotiations to avoid war.[51]

On 28 February, Pakistan decided to release the captured Wing Commander on 1 March as a "gesture of peace".[53][54]

Other incidents

Closure of Pakistani airspace

On 27 February, Pakistan cancelled all commercial flights and closed its airspace until the midnight of 28 February.[55][56] Airlines were forced to reroute or cancel their flights with routes planned over Pakistan, leaving passengers stranded.[57] The closure was later extended until 08:00 on 1 March.[58]

Suspension of Samjhauta Express

On 28 February, Samjhauta Express, a train that runs twice weekly between India and Pakistan, has been suspended by the government of Pakistan.[59] It was scheduled to depart from Lahore with 16 passengers who are now stuck at Lahore.[60]

International reaction

A number of nations, including Australia,[61] Indonesia,[62] Iran,[63] China,[64] Sri Lanka,[65] Turkey,[66] the United Arab Emirates,[67] and the United States, expressed their concern, called for restraint, or offered to mediate.[68][69]

See also

References

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  2. ^ "India will 'completely isolate' Pakistan". 15 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  3. ^ "Pulwama terror attack: Timeline of conflict between India and Pakistan". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  4. ^ Network, The Statesman/Asia News. "Heavy shelling reported on India-Pakistan border; 5 soldiers injured". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  5. ^ a b c DelhiFebruary 27, India Today Web Desk New; February 27, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 06:20. "J&K: Pakistan army uses tanks on LoC in Sialkot sector, situation tense, say sources". India Today. Retrieved 27 February 2019. {{cite web}}: |first3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Dawn.com (27 February 2019). "2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; pilot arrested". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  7. ^ a b DelhiFebruary 27, India Today Web Desk New; February 27, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 18:49. "Pakistan claims IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in its custody, releases video". India Today. Retrieved 27 February 2019. {{cite web}}: |first3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Pakistan shoots down two Indian Air Force jets as tensions escalate". Evening Standard. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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  10. ^ "Pakistan captures Indian pilot after shooting down aircraft, escalating hostilities". Washington Post.
  11. ^ a b PTI. "350 terrorists killed in LoC air strike, claims India". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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  14. ^ a b c "Statement by Official Spokesperson on 27 February 2019". www.mea.gov.in. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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  37. ^ a b "Pakistan says it shot down two Indian jets as Kashmir border crisis deepens". CNN. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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  41. ^ Dawn.com (27 February 2019). "2 Indian aircraft violating Pakistani airspace shot down; 2 pilots arrested". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  42. ^ M. Ilyas Khan, Abhinandan: Villagers recount dramatic capture of pilot, BBC News
  43. ^ "India-Pak Tensions LIVE: IAF Wing Commander Missing After MiG-21 Crash, Pakistan Claims He is in Their Custody, Says Govt". News18. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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  47. ^ www.thenewsminute.com https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/pakistan-violates-indian-airspace-india-shoots-down-f-16-97434. Retrieved 27 February 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  48. ^ "Wreckage Of Downed Pak F-16 Fighter Seen In PoK". NDTV.com. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  49. ^ "IAF shows parts of Amraam missile, says evidence confirms MiG-21 shot down Pakistan's F-16". The Times of India. 28 February 2019.
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  53. ^ Pakistan, Govt of (28 February 2019). "Pakistan will release Indian Pilot Abhinandan tomorrow as a gesture of peace: Prime Minister Imran Khanpic.twitter.com/6aUN4S9JVb". @pid_gov. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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  60. ^ "Amid tensions with India, Pakistan suspends Samjhauta Express". India Today. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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  62. ^ Khaliq, Riyaz ul (28 February 2019). "Indonesia calls on India, Pakistan to reduce tensions". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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  64. ^ DelhiFebruary 27, India Today Web Desk New; February 27, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 11:56. "China goes soft on Pakistan, says it has always opposed terrorism". India Today. {{cite web}}: |first3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  65. ^ "Ensure stability of entire region: SL tells India, Pakistan". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  66. ^ "Turkey offers mediation between Pakistan, India as tensions escalate". The Express Tribune. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
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  68. ^ "Turkey calls for calm between Pakistan, India - Turkey News". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  69. ^ "Concern Regarding India-Pakistan Tensions". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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