In light of the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, operations of the Samjhota Express have been suspended temporarily, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday.

A press statement by the Foreign Office (FO) said that the operations will resume “as soon as the security situation improves between India and Pakistan”.

The Samjhota Express runs twice a week (Monday and Thursday) from Lahore to Attari via the Wagah railway station. Yesterday, the Pakistan Railways had said that the train would depart for Attari at 8am as usual.

Security arrangements across Pakistan have been tightened in light of tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Flight operations were suspended when Pakistani airspace was closed to commercial flights on Wednesday.

Tensions between the neighbouring countries escalated after an Indian aircraft violated Pakistan’s airspace on Tuesday. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had “immediately scrambled” and the Indian plane went back. Yesterday, the PAF undertook strikes across the Line of Control from Pakistani airspace, following which two Indian aircrafts violated the LoC again and were shot down by the PAF.

The civil and military leadership of Pakistan has urged India to deescalate tensions while emphasising its right to respond to Indian aggression.

In response to strikes by IAF, PAF shot down two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace.

In the early hours of Wednesday, two Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft were shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in response to unprovoked aggression a day earlier.

DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor in a tweet said: “In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by MoFA, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace. One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K while other fell inside IOK. One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area.”

The military spokesperson, who had earlier confirmed the capture of an Indian pilot, said in a press conference that Pakistani forces have now captured two IAF pilots after their jets were shot down in air combat by PAF aircraft.

Tensions have been high between the two nuclear-armed rivals since a suicide bomber, a native of Indian-occupied Kashmir, crashed a car packed with 300kg of explosives into a convoy of Indian Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), killing more than 40 paramilitary personnel, and injuring at least 70 on February 14 in Pulwama.

The PAF engaged with six selected Indian targets from within its airspace in Bhimbar Gali, KG Top, and the Indian supply Depot in Naryan.

“It was unanimously decided by the Armed Forces that no military installations or civilian areas would be targeted, and the strikes would be conducted in a responsible manner to avoid collateral damage and further escalation in the region,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said.

The military spokesperson said that Pakistan has the capability and the will to engage in a conflict that is not of its own making but chooses to not enter into conflict at the cost of regional peace.

He went on to say, that this was not ‘retaliation’ in its true sense, but “we want to avoid a full-blown war”.

There were additional reports going around that a Pakistani F-126 plane had also been shot down. The military spokesperson quelled any rumours and informed that PAF did not use any F-16s in its latest engagement.

Two Indian aircraft entered Pakistani air space, engaged with PAF, and as a result, were shot down. The wreckage of one of the planes landed in Azad Jammu Kashmir, and the wreckage of the other plane landed in the Indian-occupied Kasmir.

There are also intelligence reports of another Indian plane being shot down, but the wreckage is reportedly deep in Indian territory. There was no engagement with the third IAF plane.

Two IAF pilots were captured by the armed forces on the ground. One of the pilots, who was critically injured, was sent to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and is being treated. The second captured pilot is now in the army’s custody.

According to the ISPR, documents were recovered from the two captured pilots

According to the military spokesperson, “The state of Pakistan, the government of Pakistan, the Armed Forces of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan have always conveyed a message of peace India, and the route to peace goes through the way of ‘dialogue’. Both countries have nuclear capabilities, but war is actually the failure of policy, which Indian needs to understand.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday afternoon addressed the nation and decision makers in neighbouring India to reiterate his message of peace and offer for dialogue.

The address came after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully targeted non-military targets across the Line of Control earlier in the day to demonstrate Pakistan’s aggressive capabilities, and shot down two Indian Air Force jets after they crossed the LoC.

Two Indian Air Force pilots are currently in the captivity of Pakistan’s armed forces. One has been identified as Wing Commander Abhi Nandan. The other as yet unidentified pilot is receiving medical care at a military hospital.

“I wanted to take the nation into confidence over the developments since yesterday morning,” the premier said as he began his address.

“We offered peace to India after what happened in Pulwama. I understood the pain of the families [who lost family members in Pulwama]. I have visited hospitals and seen the pain of people affected by violence. We have lost 70,000 of our own and I know what those who are left behind and those who are injured feel.

“[On that basis], we offered India that we would cooperate. It is not in Pakistan’s interest to let our land be used for terrorism. There is no dispute there. Yet, I had still feared that India would [ignore the offer and] still take action, and I had therefore warned India against aggression and said we will be compelled to respond because no sovereign country can allow that [violation of its sovereignty].”

“When India stuck yesterday morning, me and the army chief spoke. We did not respond in haste — this would have been irresponsible as it would have resulted in casualties on their side. Once we assessed the damage caused, we were ready to take action.

“The sole purpose of our action [today] was to convey that if you can come into our country, we can do the same,” he said, referring to the engagement of non-military targets across the LoC.

“Two of their MiGs have been shot down [by Pakistani forces],” he noted.

“It is important where we go from here. From here, it is imperative that we use our heads and act with wisdom,” he continued.

“All wars are miscalculated, and no one knows where they lead to. World War I was supposed to end in weeks, it took six years. Similarly, the US never expected the war on terrorism to last 17 years.

“I ask India: with the weapons you have and the weapons we have, can we really afford such a miscalculation? If this escalates, things will no longer be in my control or in Modi’s,” the prime minister continued.

“I once again invite you: we are ready. We understand the grief India has suffered in Pulwama and are ready for any sort of dialogue on terrorism. I reiterate that better sense should prevail.

“Let’s sit together and settle this with talks,” the prime minister concluded.