Three days of India-Pakistan power play

Tension has been on the rise since the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. It escalated further after India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on February 26 and Pakistan retaliation by violating Indian airspace. Here is a look at the three days of the powerplay.

On February 26, in an intelligence-led operation in the early hours of Tuesday, India struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

A very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders were eliminated in Balakot facility headed by Maulana Yousuf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Masood Azhar.

Around 5.12 am Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Pakistan tweeted about the air strikes.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale also confirmed the air-strikes at 11:30 am in a press briefing.

(Photo courtesy: Reuters)

Later in the day on Thursday, an all party meeting was called in which leaders of different political parties participated and congratulated Indian Air Force fro successfully carrying out the Balakot operation. 

Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj also spoke to five of her counterparts. The EAM spoke to United States secretary of state Mike Pompeo, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, Singaporean foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan and in the neighbourhood, Afghan foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani and Bangladesh's foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.

In her calls, she briefed about how the Indian strikes were non-military preemptive action against the terror group that has been responsible for many attacks in India.

(Photo courtesy: AFP)

On February 27, Pakistan planes launched an attack on Indian military installations. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets entered Indian airspace in Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir.

At around 11:49, Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed the attack on Twitter and informed about the arrest of one Indian pilot.

(Photo courtesy: Reuters)

Later in the day on Wednesday, external affairs ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar held a press briefing in which he confirmed that Indian forces shot down one aircraft belonging to the Pakistan Air Force. He also informed that India lost one MiG-21 aircraft today and the pilot is missing in action.

Following Pakistan's retaliation, India summoned Pakistan's deputy high commissioner.

India also closed its northwest airspace meanwhile, Pakistan closed its entire airspace.

(Photo courtesy: AFP)

On February 27, Pakistan prime minister addressed the nation in which he said both countries could not afford any miscalculation and dialogue was the only option to address their issues.

Reiterating Indian pilot in Pakistan's custody, Imran Khan said, "During Pakistan's retaliation, two Indian MiGs crossed the border. We shot them down. The pilots are with us."

The pilot was identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan.

(Photo courtesy: Reuters)

Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan was summoned Wednesday afternoon by MEA to lodge a strong protest at the unprovoked act of aggression by Pakistan against India

Later in the evening, India handed over a dossier to Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan with specific details of JeM complicity in Pulwama terror attack and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan.

The United States, Britain and France proposed that the United Nations Security Council blacklist the head of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar who is responsible for Pulwama terror attack.

(Photo courtesy: AFP)

On February 28, Pakistan authorities suspended the Samjhauta Express train service between Pakistan and India until further notice. Following the report, Indian railways also decided to suspend the operations of the Indo-Pak Samjhauta Express.

In the afternoon at 1:00 PM, US President Donald Trump in a news conference in Vietnam said he had some "reasonably decent" news from India and Pakistan. He did not elaborate further.

At 3:30 pm, joint session of Pakistan Parliament began.

(Photo courtesy: AFP)

Later in the day, Pakistan PM Imran Khan told the National Assembly that the Pakistan government announced Indian pilot Abhinandan to be released on Friday as "peace gesture".

At around 7:00 pm, Indian Air Force presented visuals as evidence of cover of AMRAAM missile fired from Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft which was found in east of Rajouri after Pakistan Air Force(PAF) jets entered into Indian airspace on Wednesday morning.
 

(Photo courtesy: Reuters)