Pakistan fears an Indian strike; fighter jets airborne to patrol

New Delhi/Islamabad: – Pakistan is at the end of its wits, with the fear of an Indian attack. For this reason, the F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets, of the Pakistani air force, have started patrolling near the Indian border. At the same time, Pakistan is trying to deliver a message to India that it is prepared, to defend itself, by holding air exercises in the area. But the Indian analysts and former military officials are claiming that Pakistan is panicking with the fear of a possible Indian attack. Analysts and former military officials also said that the concerns of Pakistan are clearly visible from the actions of the country.

Indian National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, held a meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Naravane along with senior officials from intelligence department and paramilitary forces, to assess the situation in Jammu-Kashmir. Only last week, five Indian soldiers, including a senior officer were killed in the terror attack in the Handwara region. Thereafter, the Indian security forces killed Riyaz Naikoo, the Hizbul commander, along with his accomplices. The repercussions of this action were heard, even in Pakistan.

Pakistan media have started expressing fears that India will not stop only at killing Naikoo, but will attack Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and take over the Gilgit-Baltistan region, to avenge the killing of the senior military official. Moreover, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also had expressed a concern that India will feign a terror attack and attack Pakistan. But the verbal volley of the Pakistan Prime Minister will prove to be futile. Pakistani analysts are warning that Pakistan will not be able to bear the brunt of an Indian attack. Former Pakistan military officials have asked that if Imran Khan fears an attack from India, what are the preparations being done to fight the attack? These former officials have also confessed that whatever threats Pakistan issues to India, the Pakistan Military will not be able to survive the onslaught of the Indian military. In this scenario, the panicking Pakistan defence forces are trying to create a facade that they are prepared to face the Indian attack. This is the reason that the Pakistani fighter jets are patrolling in the airspace near the Indian border.

Indian analysts are mocking Pakistan saying that the patrolling by the F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets of the Pakistani air force, is a public exhibition of the Pakistani fears. The Indian National Security Advisor has added to the Pakistani worries further, by holding a meeting with the top officials from defence, intelligence and other related agencies.

A few days ago, the Indian weather bureau sent a reminder to Pakistan, by including information regarding the weather in the Gilgit-Baltistan, in its daily weather report. The All India Radio and Doordarshan followed suit. With this, the Pakistan media started claiming that India was preparing to attack Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Against this background, the patrolling by the fighter jets from the Pakistani air force becomes a part of the efforts to avert an Indian attack.

India can carry out an attack like the Balakot attack, to avenge the killing of the senior army official in Handwara. Pakistan seems to be thinking that it is imperative to carry out air patrolling in the border areas to avert such an attack. Former Chief of Army Staff, General V.K. Singh added to the worries of Pakistan with his announcement ‘Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part of India and the Indian military has a plan ready for the acquisition of this region.’ Former Army Chief, General Singh also said that this plan would be activated at the appropriate time.