india

Updated: Mar 07, 2019 23:05 IST

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday asserted that it was in a “high state of preparedness” to foil any aggressive move by its Pakistani counterpart, adding that 11 points along the air boundary between the two neighbours were still shut.

A brief IAF statement said the force was keeping a “strict vigil in the skies” to detect and thwart any act of aggression by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) against the backdrop of escalating military tensions between the two countries following the February 26 bombing of a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror base in Balakot.

“The IAF is in a high state of preparedness to proactively engage any perceived threat in the present security scenario,” the statement said.

Citing a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the air force said the neighbouring country had opened its airspace only with Oman, Iran, Afghanistan and China.

A NOTAM warns about potentially hazardous airspace. Pakistan imposed flight restrictions in its airspace after tensions rose between the two countries following the February 26 air strikes by the IAF in reprisal for the February 14 suicide car bombing on a bus carrying paramilitary troops that killed at least 40 men.

The statement said, citing NOTAM No. A0234/19 issued by the Pakistan CAA, that 11 entry/exit points located along the Indo-Pakistan airspace boundary were still closed. “They are also on high alert and have not opened their air corridors. Any air activity from our side will be considered hostile by them. The IAF statement reinforces that we are fully prepared to deal with any situation,” said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

The IAF had on February 28 said it had credible evidence to prove that the Mirage 2000 strikes against the Balakot terror base of the Jaish-e-Mohammed met their objectives. The evidence, consisting of satellite and radar imagery, has been handed over the government, officials said. The statement came a day after the Army warned Pakistan of “dire consequences” after the neighbouring army targeted Indian posts and civilians areas with heavy artillery in “intense and unprovoked” firing along the Line of Control.

In a rare media briefing by two-star officers from the three services on February 28, the Indian military warned Pakistan that it was prepared to respond swiftly to any misadventure or provocation, and contended that Islamabad peddled falsehoods about the aerial skirmish on February 27.