Pakistan accuses India of airspace violation; IAF downplays

Pakistan on Tuesday accused India of violation of its airspace but the Indian Air Force said it appeared to be a "technical violation" as its aircraft on a routine training sortie seemed to have flown close to the border.

Pakistan on Tuesday accused India of violation of its airspace but the Indian Air Force said it appeared to be a "technical violation" as its aircraft on a routine training sortie seemed to have flown close to the border.

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A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesman said in Islamabad that two high speed Indian aircraft "violated Pakistani airspace by three nautical miles" at about 10.40am in Attari-Fazilka sector.

"The aircraft stayed inside Pakistani airspace for about two minutes," the spokesman said in a statement.

The PAF initiated prompt tactical action and scrambled two fighter aircraft to challenge the "intruders", the spokesman added.

"Upon PAF action, Indian aircraft exited the Pakistani airspace," he said.

An IAF spokesman, however, downplayed the incident.

"It is clarified that IAF aircraft which were on a routine flying training sortie seem to have flown close to the border and it appears to be a technical violation. The same has also been conveyed to the Pakistan authorities," he said.