India calls intrusion ‘non-military pre-emptive action’ to take diplomatic pressure off

NEW DELHI: In order to avoid international backlash over intrusion into Pakistani airspace, India has called it ‘non-military pre-emptive action”.The Pakistan Air Force thwarted an early morning incursion into its airspace Tuesday by Indian fighter aircraft forcing them to flee, the military spokesman said.The Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector, Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet at 6:36 am.He said the "timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force" forced the intruding aircraft to "release payload in haste while escaping, which fell near Balakot."Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a special meeting of the National Security Committee, which strongly rejected Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot and the claim of heavy casualties. The Forum concluded that India has committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing.Hours later, Indian Defence Secretary Vijay Gokhale addressed the much anticipated press conference where he was supposed to inform his people about the exact details of the offensive. But he ended up causing further confusion.The secretary simply read out a statement and refused to take questions. Vijay Gokhale said it was an intelligence based operation without providing any evidence.When journalists asked him for details, the Foreign Secretary chose to leave the press conference.In his press conference, Vijay termed the intrusion ‘Non-military pre-emptive action” in order to take the diplomatic pressure off.He explained “A non military preemptive strike means that a military target has not been hit by the Indian Air Force. Hitting a military target would be construed as an act of war.”

from The News International - World https://ift.tt/2TgiU9p