27 Feb, 20:30 (IST)

The meeting of 3 military chiefs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convened to review security situation after Pakistan violated airspace today, has ended.

27 Feb, 19:04 (IST)

The Director General, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor has backtracked from its earlier claim that it has two IAF personnel in its custody. In a second statement issued later the Pakistan Army spokesperson, he said that only 1 IAF pilot has been taken into custody.

27 Feb, 17:58 (IST)

Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over the missing IAF pilot, who Pakistan claims to have taken into its custody. The top Opposition leader said that he hopes the missing pilot would return home soon.

27 Feb, 17:43 (IST)

Twitter, which is often dominated by jingoist micro-bloggers, sounded a message of peace on Wednesday. Even as clamour grows for war on both sides of the border, #SayNoToWar began trending on the social media site. Read full report.

27 Feb, 17:16 (IST)

Hours after the aerial engagement between Indian and Pakistani forces at the LoC, India has summoned the Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah to register its complaint.

27 Feb, 16:58 (IST)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday confirmed the Indian Air Force foiled Pakistan Air Force's bid to enter the Indian airspace. An IAF pilot went missing during the engagement, said the MEA. Below is the full statement released by the ministry:India had informed about Counter Terrorism (CT) action it took yesterday against a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan based on credible evidence that JeM intended to launch more attacks. Against this Counter Terrorism Action, Pakistan has responded this morning by using its Air Force to target military installations on the Indian side. Due to our high state of readiness and alertness, Pakistan’s attempts were foiled successfully.The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts.

27 Feb, 16:35 (IST)

Amid escalating tensions after an airstrike by the Indian Air Force on Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp in Balakot, India on Wednesday shot down a Pakistani jet which fell across the Line of Control (LoC). The Ministry of External Affairs also said one of its MiG-21 pilots was "missing in action".Earlier today, Pakistan army claimed it shot down two Indian aircraft and arrested two Indian pilots. One of the pilots identified himself as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, said Pakistan army's spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor.

27 Feb, 15:23 (IST)

India shot down an aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force, said the Ministry of External Affairs. Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the MEA, said an Indian pilot is missing after a MiG 21 aircraft got lost during the engagement with PAF fighter jets."One Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by Indian Air Force. In this engagement, we have lost one MiG 21. Pilot is missing in action. Pakistan claims he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts," Kumar said.

27 Feb, 15:02 (IST)

The government has withdrawn a directive that ordered the closure of major airports in northern parts of the country. The NOTAM (Notice to Airmen to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route) has been withdrawn. Flight operations will resume soon, ANI reported.

27 Feb, 14:25 (IST)

Amid reports of violation of the Indian airspace by Pakistan, the Congress party has postponed its meeting and a rally scheduled to be held tomorrow. "In wake of the prevailing condition on the border, Congress has postponed the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting and rally scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad tomorrow," the party said.

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Srinagar, February 27: A day after the Indian Air Force conducted a strike on Balakot terror camp, Pakistan claimed it conducted air strike without violating Indian airspace. However, sources in the Indian Army said Pakistani aircraft violated Indian airspace in Nowshera and Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir. An F-16 jet of Pakistan Air Force was shot down in retaliatory fire, new agency ANI reported quoting sources.

Dr Mohammed Faisal, spokesperson of Pakistan Foreign Office, in a tweet, claimed Pakistan carried out strike across the Line of Contro from Pakistan airspace. #PAF undertook strikes across LoC from Pakistani airspace. Sole purpose of this action was to demonstrate our right, will and capability for self defence. We do not wish to escalate but are fully prepared if forced into that paradigm (sic)," he tweeted. PM Modi 'Did Not Sleep Last Night', Monitored IAF Strikes on JeM Camp Realtime: Report.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesperson of the Pakistan army, claimed the PAF shot down two Indian aircraft and arrested an Indian pilot. "In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area (sic)," he tweeted.

The Indian government has not confirmed any of these reports. Tension has been high between India and Pakistan following the February 14 attack in Pulwama in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Twelve days after a suicide bombing by a JeM terrorist, the IAF crossed over the LoC and struck a terror camp in Balakot, killing "a very large number" of terrorists and their trainers. Flight Operations Suspended At Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot, Amritsar, Dharamshala and Dehradun Airports After Pakistan Tries to Violate Indian Air Space.

Pakistan admitted the IAF planes struck Balakot, but claimed they returned when it scrambled its warplanes and that there were no losses on the ground. The Pakistan army also threatened a "befitting response".