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In high state of preparedness, ready to deal with any threat to country: IAF

The IAF issued a statement saying that a strict vigil is being maintained in the skies.

In high state of preparedness, ready to deal with any threat to country: IAF

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Thursday that it is in a high state of preparedness and ready to engage any perceived threat to the country.

The IAF issued a statement saying that a strict vigil is being maintained in the skies.

“IAF is in a high state of preparedness to proactively engage any perceived threat in the present security scenario. A strict vigil in the skies to detect and thwart any act of aggression from Pakistan Air Force is being maintained,” the statement read, as reported by ANI.

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The IAF said that 11 entry and exit points along the Indo-Pak airspace boundary are still closed.

“As per NOTAM No. A0234/19 issued by CAA Pakistan, it has opened their airspace with Oman, Iran, Afghanistan and China only. The eleven entry/exit points located along Indo-Pak airspace boundary are still closed,” the statement read.

The airspace was closed by Pakistan following the IAF strike on a major training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) on 26 February in a pre-emptive strike. The airstrike came after a suicide attack by a JeM terrorist on a CRPF convoy on 14 February in Pulwama left 44 troopers dead.

Pakistan on Thursday also blocked a request by United Nations’ officials from interviewing Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed.

The UN Ombudsman had to reportedly settle for a video interview of Saeed rather than in-person interview. Reports say that the UN has now officially recommended against de-listing of Hafiz Saeed from UNSC 1267 list.

Tensions between India and Pakistan rose to an alarming level post the 14 February strike. Pakistan, on 27 February, tried to bomb Indian military installations in Jammu-Kashmir in an airstrike which was foiled by the IAF.

In the aerial engagement, a PAF F-16 was shot down and the IAF lost a MiG-21 Bison aircraft. The pilot of the MiG, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, bailed out but landed across the LoC and was immediately taken prisoner by Pakistani Army.

He was released on 1 March in what Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan described a “peace gesture” even though Islamabad was under pressure to release the pilot due to Geneva Convention.

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