ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force has increased its vigilance flights creating panic and sparking war rumors, as Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar Chaudhry yesterday warned that the country had the potential and right to defend itself if forced to war.
“If India tried to thrust war, then the armed forces of Pakistan have all the potential and right to defend (the country),” Chaudhry told reporters, as he said the defense of Pakistan was in strong hands.
Chaudhry said India would never want war because “if it breaks out, then God forbid the situation might develop into a nuclear war.” He said Congress party President Sonia Gandhi’s statement relating to war with Pakistan was nothing but an election stunt.
Meanwhile, PAF jet flights over Lahore and Rawalpindi created panic sparking rumors that India had launched attack to target Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and offices of other jihadi organizations.
Air Force Public Relations Director Air Commodore Humayun told Arab News “in view of the current environment the PAF has enhanced its air vigilance.” Defense analysts including Lt. Gen. Talat Massoud and former Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Farrukh Khan told Arab News, “India was exerting pressure to create a war-like situation to get its demands implemented by Pakistan vis-à-vis Mumbai terrorist attacks and demand of suspects who are in Pakistan.”
Mobile phone messages that have now become major source of information started circulating that PAF jets were flying to counter Indian attacks. However, television channels quoting officials were quick to dispel the rumors.
GEO TV quoting an official spokesman said PAF has increased vigilance and the flights over Rawalpindi and Lahore were inside Pakistan. The PAF is on high alert since reports of any possible attack by India.
“In the current environment, the PAF has enhanced its vigilance,” PAF spokesman Air Commodore Humaun Viqar was quoted as saying. Other channels also quoted different officials that Pakistan forces were on alert but dispelled rumors of any attack.
However, residents in Islamabad and other cities came out of their homes and offices and started calling media organizations. Reports said all airports of the country were also put on high alert.
Amid the war of words, the Pakistani Air Force conducted an exercise, causing delay to two civilian flights, said Muhammad Latif, a spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines.
The flights were delayed at the airport in the eastern Pakistan city of Lahore, near the Indian border, Latif said. A Pakistani Air Force spokesman would only say the Air Force had “enhanced its vigilance” in view of the situation.
— With input from agencies
