Nasheman News :  Fire indication observed by the pilot during boarding delayed a Doha-bound Qatar Airways flight by nearly five hours on Thursday in Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

The flight QR-541 was originally scheduled to take off at 3.15 a.m.

Officials from the Airport Authority of India said while boarding of Qatar Airways flight QR-541 was in progress, the pilot observed fire indication in the auxillary power unit. A full emergency was declared by Air Traffic Control at 3 a.m. which was withdrawn an hour later.

After the aircraft was checked and cleared, the flight finally departed at 8.11 a.m.

Nasheman News : Authorities in Pakistan have suspended the Samjhauta Express between India and Pakistan in view of rising tensions between the countries.

The train, which was to leave Lahore for Attari in India early on Thursday, was cancelled and did not arrive here, security officials said.

Passengers who were to travel to India were told they could seek a refund for their booked tickets.

The train runs between both countries on Mondays and Thursdays. It links Lahore with Attari in Punjab.

A link train (of Samjhauta Express) ferries passengers from Attari to Delhi. 

On Wednesday, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said the Samjhauta Express (link train) service will continue as per schedule from Delhi to Attari in Punjab.

Following the Jaish-e-Mohammad’s suicide bombing of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama which killed 40 troopers, the passenger footfall in the train fell drastically. Hardly a hundred passengers travelled on Monday.

Nasheman News : Uttar Pradesh lost two of its bravehearts on Wednesday after an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 transport chopper crashed in J&K’s Budgam district, officials said.

Corporal Deepak Pandey from Lucknow’s Mangla Vihar area and Corporal Pankaj Kumar Singh from Mathura died in the crash. The helicopter crashed in a field near Garend Kalaan village at 10.05 a.m.

The report of Pandey’s death was communicated to his father Ram Prakash Pandey by the Srinagar airbase, a close relative said. Pandey had joined the IAF five years back. 

Senior officials of the UP government and Minister of Industrial Development Satish Mahana visited the deceased’s house. Consoling the family, Mahana said the state government was with them in this hour of grief.

Singh’s family members in Mathura’s Sarang Vihar area were informed about of the tragedy by Wing Commander Praveen Kumar, a relative said. 

His father Nauhbat Singh, a retired army personnel, was told that his son was killed in the line of duty after his chopper crashed.

Singh had joined the IAF in 2012. He got married to Medha Chowdhary from Bulandshahr in 2015 and the couple have a one-and-a-half-year-old son. He had returned to duty after a 15-day leave on February 2. 

The family members said Singh had spoken to his parents and wife on Tuesday evening.

Mourning the loss of lives, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the nation would remain indebted to Pandey and Singh for their supreme sacrifice.

Nasheman News :The BJP on Wednesday rejected as “baseless” the opposition’s charge of its “blatant politicisation of the armed forces’ sacrifices” and said such allegations help Pakistan as their media is using this against India.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley urged the opposition parties to introspect over their joint statement in which they expressed their deep anguish over the “blatant politicisation of the sacrifices of the armed forces” by leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

In a series of tweets, Jaitley said that the “ill-advised” statement was being used by Pakistan to bolster its case.

“The Cross Border terror attack in Pulwama was a reality. The Balakot Operation was India’s anti-terror pre-emptive strike to defend its sovereignty.

“The whole nation has spoken in one voice. Why then is India’s opposition alleging that the government is politicising our anti-terror operations?

“My appeal to India’s opposition – let the country speak in one voice. Please introspect – your ill advised statement is being used by Pakistan to bolster its case,” he said. 

Union Minister and party leader Prakash Javadekar also told a press conference earlier that the opposition’s allegations were baseless. 

“There is no politicisation of the issue and we don’t even wish to. But did the opposition ever thought how their statement can be misused? Their statement has become news for Pakistani media,” he said.

He said such statements by opposition leaders sends a message that the country is not united.

“Pakistan, the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani media is happy with the statement of 21 opposition parties. Such statements create trouble. The opposition should think whether their remarks are appropriate or not,” he said. 

Leaders of major opposition parties, who met here, issued a joint statement later.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala hit back at the Jaitley and said it is the BJP and its leadership which require real introspection. 

“Entire opposition stood as one backing the armed forces and the government. Still, Amit Shah & entire BJP resorted to credit seeking for the sacrifice of our martyrs & indulged in blaming the Congress provocatively,” he said in a tweet. 

Nansheman News : India on Wednesday said Pakistan has committed an “unprovoked act of aggression” by targeting Indian military posts with its air force and sought immediate and safe return of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot in its custody.

After an aerial engagement in the J&K’s Nowshera sector on Wednesday, Pakistan claimed that it has captured one Indian pilot, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, a MiG 21 Bison pilot. 

India has issued a demarche to Pakistan, objecting to the “vulgar display” of the injured IAF pilot in violation of all norms and said Islamabad must ensure that no harm is done to the Indian defence personnel in its custody. 

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also summoned Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest at “the unprovoked act of aggression by Pakistan against India earlier today, including violation of the Indian air space by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and targeting of Indian military posts.” 

It also gave Pakistan a dossier with specific details of Jaish-e-Mohammed’s complicity in the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been asking India to provide “actionable intelligence” to take action against those involved in the Pulwama attack. JeM, based in Pakistan, had claimed responsibility for the attack. 

The MEA said in a statement it was clearly conveyed to Pakistan that India reserves the right to take firm and decisive action to protect its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity against any act of aggression or cross-border terrorism. 

“India also strongly objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an injured personnel of the IAF in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention. It was made clear that Pakistan would be well advised to ensure that no harm comes to the Indian defence personnel in its custody. India also expects his immediate and safe return,” the statement said. 

India had earlier in the day accused Pakistan of targeting the military installations in response to its counter-terrorism action a day earlier and said an Indian MiG-21 Bison pilot was “missing in action.” 

It said Pakistan has used its air force to target military installations on the Indian side and in the aerial engagement, one PAF fighter aircraft was shot down but a MiG-21 aircraft was also lost.

The MEA said targeting of Indian military posts was in contrast to India’s non-military anti-terror pre-emptive strike at a JeM terrorist camp at Balakot in Pakistan eraly Tuesday. 

“It is unfortunate that instead of fulfilling its international obligation and bilateral commitment to take credible action against terrorist entities and individuals operating from its soil, Pakistan has acted with aggression against India,” the statement said. 

The MEA said India expects Pakistan to take immediate and verifiable action against terrorism emanating from territories under its “control.” 

“Regret was expressed at the continuing denial by Pakistan’s political and military leadership at the presence of terrorist infrastructure in territories under its control. A dossier was handed over to Pakistan side with specific details of JeM complicity in the Pulwama attack and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan,” the statement said. 

The chopper crashed in an open field near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam at 10.05 am, officials said.

The IAF jet that crashed in Budgam.

The aircraft crashed in an open field near Garend Kalaan village in Budgam at 10:05 am, officials said. It broke into two and caught fire immediately, senior officials said. 

Senior defence officials said the aircraft, an MI-17 chopper, crashed after developing a technical snag. 

One of the deceased persons has been identified as Kifayat Hussain Ganaie, a local resident, while the identity of the six IAF personnel is still being ascertained, they said. 

The crash, amid rapid escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, led to speculation that it was targeted by Pakistani warplanes that violated Indian airspace. But both sides clarified that it was not the case. 

The crash happened a day after IAF warplanes struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, around 80 kilometres from the Line of Control.

Agencies

Nasheman News : An Emirates flight from Dubai to Delhi was diverted on Wednesday after Karachi airspace was closed amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Boeing 777 300 aircraft, which took off from Dubai at 10.30 a.m., half an hour behind schedule, landed at Ahmedabad airport at 2.45 p.m. for refuelling.

Before landing, the plane’s captain announced that it had to be diverted because it was denied permission to fly over Karachi airspace. The flight was grounded at Ahmedabad for an hour. 

Tensions have erupted between India and Pakistan following the Indian Air Force (IAF) jets bombing the biggest training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit in Balakot on Tuesday. 

The IAF on Wednesday chased away intruding Pakistani fighter jets in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera sector. 

Reports said that Pakistan has banned any Indian aircraft from using their airspace and that Pakistan’s Air Traffic Control has banned any aircraft from flying below 32,000 feet.

Nasheman News :  Maharashtra and its capital Mumbai have been put on high alert’ in the wake of the rising tensions on the country’s north-west border, official sources said here on Wednesday.

Heightened security was seen in Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country. Police vigil has been enhanced in Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik and Kolhapur as well. The government is ensuring there is no disturbance to the ongoing HSC (Class XII) examinations in the state.

In Mumbai, the tension was palpable on city roads and highways where random checks were being carried out in private and commercial vehicles, BEST or private buses.

Security was tightened at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), major stations and terminals of Western Railway, Central Railway, Konkan Railway, suburban railway stations with high footfalls, bus depots and other sensitive installations in and around the city.

Police checks have also been intensified at the CSMIA, cargo complex and major hotels in its vicinity, and armed police and dog squads were scrutinising the luggage of passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Dadar Terminus, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus from where most long-distance trains arrive or depart.

Increased patrolling was seen at important government and private residential and commercial establishments including the Mantralaya, the Legislature Building, headquarters of banks, airlines, shipping companies, luxury hotels, malls and multiplexes, top tourist destinations, places of worship, educational institutions, etc.

Nasheman News : Pakistan on Tuesday decided to raise the issue of “India’s violation of the Line of Control” (LoC) at international forums after the IAF struck the Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan.

According to Geo News, the decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by the civil and military leadership, including Army Chief General Qamar Jawed Bajwa and the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs. 

It was decided that the matter of “Indian LoC violation be immediately raised at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), UN and with friendly countries”, the report said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will raise the issue at international forums. 

The meeting also decided that a joint session will be called to take Parliament into confidence. 

According to Geo News, participants of the meeting were briefed on the preparedness of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to respond to any aggression. 

“There is a strong mechanism in place to guard the land and air borders of the country,” the report quoted security officials as saying.

Ahead of the meeting, Qureshi chaired an emergency consultative meeting at the Foreign Office and said Pakistan had “the right to self-defence and (give) a befitting response” to India.

Tuesday’s attack came after a JeM suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF troopers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. 

In a 21-minute offensive, 12 Mirage 2000 jets carried out the strike at around 3.30 am and dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across LOC, completely destroying it.

Hours after the pre-dawn offensive on Pakistan-based terror camps, the Government said on Tuesday said that “India has struck the biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot eliminating a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commander and jihadis in the operation”.

The camp in Balakot was led by Maulana Yusuf Azhar alias Ustad Ghauri, brother-in-law of JeM Chief Masood Azhar.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale addressing the media said India had received credible information on JeM attempting other attacks in the country and therefore a pre-emptive strike had become necessary.

“Credible intelligence was received that Jaish-e-Mohammed was attempting another suicide terror attack in various parts of the country and fidayeen jihadis were being trained for this purpose,” he said.

He said the non-military pre-emptive action was targeted specifically at the JeM camp adding that the selection of the target was also conditioned to avoid civilian casualties.

“India has given proof many times seeking action against Jaish-e-Mohammed and others at terror camps so big, that they can train hundreds of jihadis and terrorists at any given time. But due to Pakistan’s inaction, this step was necessary and had to be taken,” he said.

“India is firmly and resolutely committed to taking all measures to fight the menace of terrorism. This non-military pre-emptive action was targeted specifically at JeM camp. The selection of the target was also conditioned by our desire to avoid civilian casualties,” Gokhale added.

In a 21-minute offensive, 12 Mirage 2000 jets carried out the strike at around 3.30 am and dropped 1000 Kg bombs on terror camps across LOC, completely destroying it.

The IAF jets struck terror camps and launch pads across the LoC in Balakot at around 3.45 am, Muzaffarabad at around 3.48 am and Chakoti at around 3.58 am.

One of the targets destroyed by Indian fighter jets was reportedly in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area. Strikes in the region were based on locations provided by on-ground intelligence sources.

According to a report by media, the IAF strike has led to 200-300 casualties on the Pakistani side.

Following the attack, the Indian Air Force has put on high alert across all air defence systems along the international border and LoC to respond to any possible action by the Pakistan Air Force.

The development comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the 14 February suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir in which 44 jawans were killed. Pakistan-based and supported terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Agencies