US watchi­ng report­s sugges­ting use of F-16 by PAF agains­t IndiaThe United States reiterated the call for direct communication between Islamabad and New Delhi to de-escalate the situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Last week, Indian premier Narendra Modi snubbed PM Imran’s three attempts to initiate direct contact. On February 27, Pakistan announced it had shot down two Indian fighter jets that attempted to violate its airspace and captured an Indian pilot. India asks Pakistan to ‘do more’A few hours later, Prime Minister Imran Khan took the nation into confidence over the armed forces’ response. As escalating tensions fuelled concerns of all-out war between nuclear-tipped Pakistan, Imran warned of catastrophic consequences should “better sense” not prevail.

Source: The Express Tribune March 06, 2019 07:18 UTC