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US stopped India from attacking Pakistan: US TV claims

A US TV claimed that India was ready to attack Pakistan soon after Mumbai attacks but the United States stopped it while according to Pakistan Air Force (PAF), it was fully ready to face any situation.
According to a report of US TV, three officers of Pentagon have confirmed that India put on high alert its Air force aimed to launch attack against positions of suspected terrorists in Pakistan but US stopped it and India also avoided launching any attack against Pakistan.

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India's air force geared up for possible missions against suspected terrorist camps in Pakistan in the immediate aftermath of November's Mumbai attacks, U.S. military officials told CNN Monday.

Pakistan said it would defend itself if attacked.


"We don't want to go to war," Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani announced during a speech at the National Assembly on Monday. "But if the war is thrust on us, we will stand united like a respectful nation."

Air Commodore Homayoon Ziqar, a spokesman for the Pakistani air force, told CNN that Pakistan is not on heightened alert at the moment. "Everything is normal," he said.

Another source in Pakistan's military also said the air force is not on heightened alert, but added, "We are always ready, on weekends, on holidays, no matter what the circumstances."

While the officials characterized the Indian actions as preliminary preparations to position the air force if strikes were ordered, the comments indicate that the two nuclear powers were perhaps closer to conflict than previously acknowledged.

Three Pentagon officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, have individually confirmed to CNN that the United States has information indicating that India began to prepare air force personnel for a possible mission.

The officials offered few details, but one said India's air force "went on alert."

An Indian air force official had no comment.





* Pakistan Air Force spokesman says Indian warplanes flew over Kashmir, Lahore
* India says incursions were ‘inadvertent’
* PM says violations will not be taken as attack

Indian aircraft violated Pakistani airspace in Kashmir and Lahore sectors on Saturday 13th December but were chased back over the border, the Pakistani government and a Pakistan Air Force spokesman said.

Air Commodore Himayun Viqar said the Indian aircraft crossed into Azad Kashmir and the eastern city of Lahore.

The state-run APP news agency said two aircraft were involved, but did not give the exact time.‘Inadvertent’: Information Minister Sherry Rehman said there was no need for alarm and that the Indian Air Force had told Pakistan the incursion was ‘inadvertent’. “We have confirmed it. We have spoken to the Indian Air Force and they have said it was inadvertent,” she said. “Our air force is on alert and is ready to face any eventuality, but we do not expect this to escalate. There is no need for alarm.”

In New Delhi, an Indian Defence Ministry spokesman said he had no information on the reported incursion.The Azad Kashmir prime minister confirmed the reports while talking to a private TV channel.The violations occurred at a time of heightened tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours following a series of terrorist attacks on Mumbai two weeks ago that the Indian government has blamed on elements based in Pakistan.Another private TV channel in Pakistan said the Indian jets were ‘fully armed with weapons and ammunition’ and flew up to four kilometres inside Pakistani territory.It quoted unidentified officials as saying that the violations occurred ‘during the day’ but did not elaborate.