IMRAN KHAN OFFERS DE-ESCALATION TALKS IN CONFLICT WITH INDIA
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday urged India to engage in talks to de-escalate tensions as warplanes from the nuclear-armed neighbours continued to invade each other’s air space for a second day. “I would once again ask you that better sense should prevail and we should sit and address our issues through talks,” Khan said, addressing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in a televised speech.
“My question to the Indian government is that whether we can afford miscalculation or can go to war with the kind of weapons we have and you have,” Khan said.
“Whether we should both not think what would happen if there is a miscalculation. It [a war] would neither be in my nor in Modi’s control,” Khan said.
Khan’s offer came hours after Pakistan shot down two Indian planes and captured two pilots, with one of them being treated in hospital. “Two pilots were arrested: One of them was injured and has been taken to CMH [Combined Military Hospital] and will be given proper care. The other is in our custody,” Pakistani army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said.
Indian Air Force planes on Wednesday crossed over the Line of Control (LOC) dividing Indian-administered Kashmir from the Pakistan-controlled area and were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force, Ghafoor said.
He said that the sole purpose of this action was to demonstrate Pakistan’s right, will and capability for self-defence.
“We do not wish to escalate, but are fully prepared if forced into that paradigm,” Ghafoor said at a press conference.
He also denied reports that a Pakistani F-16 warplane had been shot down in Lam valley in Indian Kashmir.
India said it shot down a Pakistani fighter jet. “In that aerial engagement one Pakistan fighter aircraft was shot down by a MIG 21 bison of the Indian Air Force,” said Raveesh Kumar, official spokesman of India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Kumar confirmed that India lost an aircraft and a pilot was missing in action. “Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts,” he said.