Pakistan downplays airspace breach by Indian jet fighters (Roundup)

Dec 14, 2008, 11:21 GMT

Islamabad/New Delhi - Pakistan on Sunday downplayed claims of violation of its airspace by Indian war planes, in a bid to avoid escalation of tension between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours.

'It's a technical incursion and it is not an incursion as such,' President Asif Ali Zardari told reporters in Islamabad.

According to him, two Indian planes entered Pakistan by mistake when they were trying to take a turn while flying 40,000 high on the other side of the border. He said Pakistani officials were in contact with Indian authorities on the issue.

Earlier, a spokesman for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said two Indian jets flew over the Pakistani part of divided Kashmir and near the eastern city of Lahore at around 11:30 am and 1:00 pm (0630 and 0800 GMT) Saturday.

'Our jet fighters intercepted the Indian combat aircraft and chased them out,' Air Commodore Humayun Viqar said. 'If Indian aircraft do the same thing again we will respond strongly. We are ready to respond to any Indian adventure.'

Responding to Pakistan's allegations, an IAF spokesman in Delhi said, 'There has not been any airspace violation by Indian Air Force as has been alleged. We haven't even received any complaint from the Pakistani side.'

Fragile relations between the neighbours have worsened since last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, where an alleged Pakistani militant group killed more than 170 people.

Indian officials have pressed Islamabad for a strong action against a Pakistan-based militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, believed to be behind the Mumbai carnage.

Pakistani public and political leadership reacted strongly to the reports of violations by the Indian aircraft.

'If a war breaks out, the whole nation will fight shoulder to shoulder with its valiant armed forces,' one resident told the private Geo News channel in the southern port city of Karachi.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who leads the country's second- largest political party, said: 'Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity will be defended at every cost.'