In ‘high-state of preparedness’ to deal with any threat from Pakistan: IAF

The Indian Air Force on Thursday said it was in a “high state of preparedness” to proactively engage any perceived threat from Pakistan, in an indication that tension remained between the two countries.

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

Citing a document of Pakistan’s civil aviation authority, the IAF said the neighbouring country has opened its airspace with Oman, Iran, Afghanistan and China only and the 11 entry and exit points located along Indo-Pak airspace were still closed.

Officials said all the frontline IAF bases along India’s western border have been kept on maximum alert and also that a strict vigil in the skies is being maintained to detect and thwart any act of aggression by the Pakistan Air Force.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated since the Pulwama terror attack February14 when a suicide bomber rammed into a CRPF convoy of Indian soldiers, killing 40.

The tensions became worse when later on February 25 the Indian Air Force struck the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Balakot training camp in an airstrike. JeM had claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.