Pakistan and India were facing their worst conflict in nearly half a century yesterday after an Indian military jet was shot down over disputed Kashmir territory and an Indian fighter pilot was captured by Pakistani forces.
Tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours has escalated sharply since India carried out a “pre-emptive strike” on a terrorist training camp in Pakistan on Tuesday, saying that it had killed a “large number” of prospective jihadis.
India confirmed that Pakistan had shot down one plane and captured a pilot after Islamabad yesterday released video footage of wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Delhi said it “strongly objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an injured personnel of the Indian air force” and demanded his “immediate and safe return”, saying Islamabad would be “well advised to ensure no harm” comes to him.