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Reuters AlertNet - Pakistan says Indian warplanes violated airspace
Pakistan says Indian warplanes violated airspace
13 Dec 2008 20:52:49 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Updates with quotes, background)
ISLAMABAD, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Pakistani air force jets scrambled on Saturday to turn back Indian warplanes that had entered Pakistan's airspace, the Islamabad government said.
Pakistan's information minister said there was no need for alarm and that India had explained the violation was inadvertent.
In New Delhi, an Indian Defence Ministry spokesman said he had no information on the reported incursion.
The violations occurred at a time of heightened tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours following an attack on Mumbai two weeks ago that the Indian government has blamed on militants based in Pakistan.
"We have confirmed it. We have spoken to the Indian airforce and they have said it was inadvertent," Information Minister Sherry Rehman said.
A Pakistani airforce spokesman said one violation took place in the Kashmir sector and one in the Lahore sector.
"Our air force is on alert and it ready to face any eventuality, but we do not expect this to escalate," Rehman said. "There is no need for alarm."
India and Pakistan have fought three wars and went to the brink of a fourth in 2002. They began a peace process in 2004, but India has said that the attacks on Mumbai had put that in jeopardy. (Reporting by Sheree Sardar and Kamran Haider; writing by Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing by Angus MacSwan)