Pakistan shoots down two Indian fighter jets: Foreign ministry
Pakistan says it carried out air raids in Indian-administered Kashmir and shot down two Indian jets in its own airspace, capturing two pilots as tensions escalate a day after India bombed targets in Pakistan, Al Jazeera reports.
"Today, Pakistan Air Force undertook strikes across Line of Control from within Pakistani airspace," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
The foreign ministry said it had hit a "non-military" target inside Indian-administered Kashmir, but that it had avoided human loss and collateral damage.
"If India is striking at so called terrorist backers without a shred of evidence, we also retain reciprocal rights to retaliate against elements that enjoy Indian patronage while carrying out acts of terror in Pakistan," it said.
Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistani army, said Indian jets had entered Pakistan in response and two fighter jets had been shot down, with two pilots captured.
One of the aircraft fell inside Indian-administered Kashmir, while the second came down in Pakistani territory, he added.
The development comes as Indian officials said at least three Pakistani combat jets entered the airspace over Indian-administered Kashmir on Wednesday but returned after being intercepted by Indian planes.
A spokesman for India's defence ministry was not immediately available for comment.