Pakistan Army releases pictures of Indian Air Force payload near Bala Kote

RAWALPINDI: Amid a sharp spike in tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, India's unprovoked violations of Pakistan airspace added fuel to already worst situation.

Pictures released by the Director General Inter Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor show a burnt out steep mountain side with no sign of any damage to any property, apart from a few burnt out pine trees.

A few shards of metal were scattered around in the charred grass.

According to DG ISPR, Indian Air Force violated airspace along the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan Air Force immediately responded to deal with an emergency situation and forced the Indian jets to return to their territory.

A news report a foreign news agency also exposed the claims made by Indian government. An eyewitness told Reuters that they heard four loud bangs in the early hours of Tuesday but reported only one person wounded by bomb shards.

“We saw trees fallen down and one house damaged and four craters where the bombs had fallen,” said Mohammad Ajmal, a 25-year-old who visited the site.

Pakistan's response

Later in the day, a special meeting of the National Security Committee, while strongly rejecting Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot, said India has committed an "uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at the time and place of its choosing."

The meeting chaired by the Prime Minister here at the PM office, was attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, COAS, CNS, CAS and other civil and military officials.

The meeting "strongly rejected Indian claim of targeting an alleged terrorist camp near Balakot and the claim of heavy casualties," a statement from the PM House said.

"Once again Indian government has resorted to a self-serving, reckless and fictitious claim. This action has been done for domestic consumption, being in election environment, putting regional peace and stability at grave risk."