Two PAF fighters were detected on Tuesday night going supersonic 10 km from the Line of Control (LoC) within the territory of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Poonch sector, following which India has put its air defense systems on high alert, government sources said on Wednesday.
Loud bangs were heard in the area due to the sonic booms, they said.
In the wake of the development, all Indian air defences and radar systems are on high alert, the sources said.
India and Pakistan are engaged in an ongoing military confrontation in the disputed Kashmir region and its neighboring provinces; the heightened tensions stem from a suicide car bombing that happened on 14 February 2019.
In the bombing, a militant from Jammu and Kashmir killed 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force members in Pulwama.
The militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility, while Pakistan’s government condemned the attack and denied any involvement.
Reacting to the suicide attack, the Indian Air Force on 26 February violated the Line of Control (LOC) to conduct what it called “preemptive” aerial strikes that targeted a terrorist training camp and killed several militants.
On the latter day, Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Indian-administered Kashmir which caused no casualties or damage.
Also on 27 February, Pakistan claimed that it had shot down two Indian jets over Pakistani airspace. Pakistan captured one Indian pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, and he was subsequently released on 1 March as a peace gestue
Subsequently, there have been a number of instances of Pakistani drones trying to engage in reconnaissance in India.
