NSA Ajit Doval holds meeting with RAW and IB chiefs over present situation

The day after India carried out another surgical strike across the Line of Control in early morning hours on Tuesday, there were reports of a ceasefire violation in the Uri sector of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir and an encounter in the Memander area of Shopian. While the US has urged both Pakistan and India to exercise 'restraint', we have to see how the day unfolds and what developments take place on this front. 

Here are the LIVE updates:

10.15 pm: My appeal to India’s opposition - “Let the country speak in one voice”. Please introspect - “Your ill-advised statement is being used by Pakistan to bolster its case,” says Arun Jaitley.

10.14 pm: Hope saner counsels shall prevail between the leadership of India, Pakistan: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

10.12 pm: PM Modi gives Indian military ‘free hand’ to act after Pakistan violated airspace: Sources.

10.05 pm: Opposition joint statement good news for Pakistan, says Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prakash Javadekar.

8:01 pm: As advised by security agencies, Red Alert has been imposed in enitre DMRC netwok from 6PM onwards on Wednesday. Under Red Alert, all station controllers are required to inspect entire station premises for any suspicious items/activity including parking lots and report to the Control Centre every two hours.

7:55 pm: Meeting on prevailing conditions concludes at PM Modi's residence.

7:53 pm: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval holds meeting with RAW and IB chiefs over present situation.

7:03 pm: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met top officials of army, paramilitary and the police to review the current situation in border areas.

7:00 pm: Jammu and Kashmir: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Krishna Ghati and Mendhar sector of Poonch.

6:45 pm: Pakistani military spokesman says Pakistan army has only one Indian pilot in custody, previously said two captured: Reports

6:35 pm: Pakistan Army contradicts Imran Khan, says only one Indian pilot in its custody.

6:31 pm: Army chief General Bipin Rawat meets PM Narendra Modi at his residence.

6:07 pm: India strongly objects to Pakistan’s ‘vulgar display’ of an injured IAF personnel: Reports.

5.34 pm: The meeting of leaders of 21 political parties condemned the dastardly Pulwama attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed on 14th February 2019 and lauded the action taken by our armed forces, says Congress president Rahul Gandhi after opposition meeting.

5.17 pm: Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah summoned by Ministry of External Affairs.

4:39 pm: High alert has been issued in Jaisalmer. All flights from or to the city airport have been cancelled.

4:32 pm: As flight operations resumed at 9 airports, which were shut earlier in the day, security personnel have been deployed in heavy numbers at all major airports across India.

3.22 pm: One Pakistan Air Force aircraft was shot down by Mig 21 Bison. We lost one Mig 21, the pilot is missing in action, says Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor. Pakistan has responded this morning by using its air force to target military installations on the Indian side, says Kapoor.

3.20 pm: Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor and MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar briefs media.

2.45 pm: IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan took off in a MiG 21 Bison jet today, he is yet to return, reports news agency ANI.

2.40 pm: MEA address at 3.15 pm.

2.45 pm: Two terrorists belonging to JeM were killed in today's encounter. One terrorist belonged to Pakistan and one was a local. Police have started an investigation, says IGP Kashmir SP Pani on today's Shopian encounter. 

2.35 pm: Air India avoiding the route of Pakistan air space with immediate effect. India use Pakistan airspace for flights to Gulf countries, Europe and USA, says Air India official.

2.22 pm: Joint Communique of 16th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, Russia & China: The Ministers stressed that those committing, orchestrating, inciting or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with existing international commitments.

2.21 pm: Joint Communique of 16th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, Russia & China (RIC): The Ministers strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms & manifestations.

2.20 pm: There has been no damage or injuries, firing from across the border has also stopped & everything is okay now. We have a plan for evacuation, transportation, rehabilitation & medical facilities but there is no need to panic for now, says Riyaz Malik, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Uri.

2.16 pm: Visuals of Opposition parties meeting in Parliament premises in Delhi.

Visuals of Opposition parties meeting in Parliament premises in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/ESqSmLhQyw

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019

2.10 pm: Global stocks turn negative as India-Pakistan tensions worsen. Asian shares and Wall Street stock futures turned negative on Wednesday after Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian jets in its territory, sending investors out of riskier markets and into more conservative choices such as the yen, reports Reuters.

2.07 pm: All flights from India to Pakistan cancelled.

2.03 pm: Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow cancelled.

1.48 pm: DG ISPR, Pakistan, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor: There are reports of crash of an Indian aircraft on the Indian side (in Budgam), we had no engagement with that aircraft.

1.45 pm:  Pakistan military says wants to avoid escalation with India.

1.33 pm: Airports in Kullu, Shimla also shut.

1.25 pm: Pakistan military spokesman says we do not want to escalate crisis with India, do not want to take the region to war.

1.20 pm: Arun Jaitley's BIG statement: If the US can conduct an operation in Abbottabad, then India can also do that.

1.17 pm: Sri Lanka had unequivocally condemned this terrorist attack in Pulwama... In this context, Sri Lanka requests India and Pakistan to act in a manner that ensures security peace and stability of the entire region.

1.16 pm: Flight operations at Dehradun airport also have been temporarily suspended.

1.15 pm: All flights to Pakistan from Delhi airport cancelled.

1.13 pm: China reiterates call for India and Pakistan to exercise restraint. 

1.10 pm: Due to operational reasons the airspace at Amritsar has been closed for now. No commercial flights are coming to Amritsar, there is no base here, so flights are not even taking off from here, AP Acharya, Amritsar Airport Director.

1.07 pm: DIG says Pilot and Co Pilot died in the fighter crash at Budgam. One civilian also has been killed in this crash. All Srinagar flights cancelled. Airports in Leh also closed for commercial flights.

1.05 pm: Security increased in and around Taj Mahal.

1.03 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his address at a function in Vigyan Bhawan on Wednesday and rushed to attend a meeting to review the security situation arising out of Pakistan's attempt to violate Indian air space, reported ANI. Modi was replying to the questions from youngsters during the National Youth Festival 2019 when he was handed over a small piece of paper by an official of Prime Minister Office (PMO). The Prime Minister immediately stopped and walked toward the panelist where Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore was also present. The PM waived at the audience and immediately left the dais and rushed to his office.

1.04 pm: Incoming flight from China to Pakistan diverted.

1.02 pm: All runways along India-Pakistan border, Forward air bases on alert.

1 pm: Indian airline IndiGo says due to airspace closure, flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Dehradun temporarily suspended.

12.53 pm: All universities in PoK shut down.

12.44 pm: High-level meeting underway at PM Modi's residence at 7,LKM.

12.43 pm: International flights that transit between Indian and Pakistani airspace now being affected. Some flights returning to origin, while others appear to be seeking alternate routing.

12.42 pm: Passengers stranded as flight operations at Amritsar airport have been suspended.

Punjab: Passengers stranded as flight operations at Amritsar airport have been suspended. pic.twitter.com/fQEtEEqZZh

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019

12.33 pm: All Pakistan airports shut down. Flight operations suspended Multan, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot. All international flights from Pakistan diverted.

12.31 pm: Jammu, Srinagar, Amritsar, Chandigarh airports closed.

12.27 pm: Sensex cracks 221.57 pts to 35,752.14; Nifty falls 71.75 pts to 10,763.55.

12.25 pm: The West Bengal government has shifted 14 Pakistani prisoners, lodged in two correctional homes here, to separate barracks and "high-security" cells, amid soaring tension between India and its western neighbour, a senior official said.

12.20 pm: Pakistan shuts down its airspace completely: Reports

12.18 pm: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is holding a high-level meeting at North block; NSA, RAW chief, Home Secretary and other officials present at the meeting

12.07 pm: Operations chal rahe hain, chalte rahenge, safalta milti rahegi, CRPF DG RR Bhatnagar on two JeM terrorists neutralised in J&K's Shopian today. 

12.01 pm: Pakistan Air Force's F-16 that violated Indian air space shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3 km within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector, reports ANI. Parachute seen as Pakistan Air Force's F-16 was going down, condition of the pilot is unknown.

12 pm: Indian airline Vistara says due to airspace restrictions, flights to and from Amritsar, Srinagar, Chandigarh and Jammu currently on hold.

11.59 am: Major General A Ghafoor, DG ISPR, Pak Army: In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down 2 Indian aircraft inside Pak airspace. 1 aircraft fell inside AJ&K, other fell inside IOK. 1 Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground, 2 in area, says ANI.

Major General A Ghafoor, DG ISPR, Pak Army: In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down 2 Indian aircraft inside Pak airspace. 1 aircraft fell inside AJ&K, other fell inside IOK. 1 Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground,2 in area pic.twitter.com/drXPdWXYfh

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019

11.57 am: Pakistan foreign ministry on Wednesday confirmed air strikes across Line of Control (LoC), reported news agency Reuters. Pakistan foreign ministry says strikes at non-military target, avoiding human loss, to demonstrate right, capability for self-defence. "We have no intention of escalation, but are fully prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm," says Pakistan foreign ministry as per the news agency. 

11.56 am: High-level meeting underway in the Home Ministry.

11.53 am: Pakistan foreign ministry confirms air strikes across LoC.

11.50 am: Will not participate in OIC meeting if Sushma Swaraj attends, says Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi.

11.45 am: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval arrives at the Home Ministry in Delhi.

11.25 am: Indian Air Force jets intercepted Pakistan planes in Kashmir, planes went back.

10.40 am: Indian Air Force fighter jet crashes in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam, two pilots and a civilian dead.

8.52 am:  India does not want 'further escalation' after Pakistan air strikes: Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

8.50 am: Encounter in Shopian's Memander area: Two terrorists have been neutralised. Combing operation is underway.

8.25 am: US urges India and Pakistan to maintain 'restraint' after IAF airstrike.

8.20 am: The firing has stopped in the Memander area of Shopian district. A search operation is underway.

7.30 am: Security arrangements beefed up at Naval Ship Repair Yard in Karwar after Indian Air Force (IAF) strike at Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp in Pakistan's Balakot on Tuesday.

Karnataka: Security arrangements beefed up at Naval Ship Repair Yard in Karwar after Indian Air Force (IAF) strike at Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp in Pakistan's Balakot yesterday. pic.twitter.com/NJxXdzvgVN

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2019

7.20 am: A joint session of Pakistan's National Assembly will also take place later today.

7.10 am: Pakistan will hold an NSC meeting today.

6.54 am: Ceasefire violation in the Gwalata sector of Uri in Baramulla district. Heavy firing on both sides.

6.32 am: The power supply of certain areas in 15 Corps Cantonment was switched off as a precautionary measure, officials said. Some areas of the cantonment are located on Zaberwan hills and electric supply to this area was stopped in anticipation of a Pakistani retaliation to the pre-dawn strike by IAF jets on the biggest terrorist camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed inside Pakistan.

6.30 am: Encounter underway in the Memander village of Shopian in South Kashmir. As many as three terrorists trapped in a house. Firing on in a joint operation of the state police, Army and CRPF.