NDTV Correspondent
Tuesday, December 23, 2008 10:03 AM (New Delhi)
Pakistan and India are both in a state of increased vigilance. And as a precautionary move, Pakistan scrambled fighter jets over several major cities on Monday, including federal capital, in a sign of increased "vigilance" amidst escalating tension between New Delhi and Islamabad over Mumbai terror attacks.
Pakistani jets roared over Islamabad, the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi and other cities as Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Humayun Viqar Zephyr said in a statement, "In view of the current environment, PAF has enhanced its vigilance."
India too reacted by deploying quick reaction air force and army teams on the Western border.
Air force units have also been deployed at Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bhuj. On the Punjab border, the BSF is on alert.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani pledged to defend the country, saying, "Pakistan is fully united" to face the situation "on the eastern border".
"All the political forces, whether inside or outside the parliament, the people of Pakistan, the government, and the armed forces are fully united for the defence of the country," he said, even as the aircrafts roared through the skies.
"The country is in safe hands and we have a highly professional and pro-democracy army. The army and the civilian government are united and we are ready to defend our country."
Pakistan upping the ante:
Pakistan fighter jets scrambled over cities like Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi.
Pakistan Army Chief meets President Asif Ali Zardari.
Army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani has said that Pakistan armed forces can strike 'within minutes' if India attacks.
General Kayani tells Zardari, further buckling under mounting Indian pressure would prove counter-productive.
(With PTI inputs)