India said it had dropped a Pakistani fighter, while Islamabad said it had shot down two Indian fighters crossed airspace, a serious escalation between the nuclear neighbors, which announced the closure of their airspace in part, amid international calls for calm, while the escalation of international concern, Neighbors to "restraint".
In details, India announced yesterday that it had shot down a Pakistani plane in disputed Kashmir, but added that Pakistan dropped one of its aircraft in air clashes.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Rajesh Kumar told a news conference that the Pakistani plane was targeted during its participation in the operation «to strike military installations in the Indian side», adding «the ground forces spotted the Pakistani aircraft during its fall from the air on the Pakistani side. In this clash, we unfortunately lost the MIG-21. The pilot lost, and Pakistan said she was arresting him. "
The Pakistani army announced earlier that it had shot down two Indian planes in Pakistani airspace, one of which fell in Indian Kashmir and the other in Pakistani Kashmir.
Pakistan and India yesterday closed their airspace partially and suspended commercial flights from several airports as their aircraft continued to penetrate each other's air space.
"The air space has been officially closed until further notice," the military said on Twitter. Pakistan's military spokesman Maj. Gen. Asif Jaafar said Pakistan had closed at least three airports in cities near the Indian border.
Indian authorities suspended flights from airports in disputed Kashmir and Punjab province until further notice, officials said.
On the Indian side, at least five airports have been closed and many flights canceled, according to officials who declined to be identified.
The Indian Foreign Minister Shoshma Soaraj confirmed during a visit to China yesterday that her country does not want «further escalation» with Pakistan, after air strikes launched by Indian fighters in Pakistani territory.
The minister said her country had hit a "limited" target yesterday, a training camp for the hardline Jaish-e-Mohammad, which two weeks ago had adopted a suicide attack in which 41 Indian soldiers were killed in Indian Kashmir.
"India does not want an escalation" and "will continue to act responsibly and responsibly."
The Indian minister took Islamabad to ignore calls from the international community to move against the Jaish-e-Mohammad group. "In the face of Pakistan's continued refusal to recognize and act against terrorist groups, the Indian government has decided to act in a preventive manner," she said.
On the other hand, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that India should "exercise the mind" further, warning New Delhi against his country's defiance. "The nation should not worry about Indian behavior because the country's defenders are fully prepared to respond to any reckless adventure, .
The escalation has sparked international concern, and the European Union and China have called on the rival neighbors to "restrain."
"We urge India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid escalation at any price," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement, referring to his Indian and Pakistani counterparts in the recent military escalation between their countries.