Indian airbases in Kashmir on alert amid warning of terrorist attacks – report

Two Indian airbases in Kashmir have been placed on high alert in response to a warning of planned terrorist attacks, reports say. One of the sites houses jets that participated in aerial combat with Pakistan in February.

Fresh intelligence data shows that terrorists plan to target two military sites on the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, New Delhi-based ANI reported on Friday, citing government sources.

The installations mentioned are Srinagar and Awantipora airbases, both in western Jammu and Kashmir State, bordering Pakistan. Security forces in and around the bases have been reportedly put on high alert.

The report did not specify the type of anticipated attacks or the terrorist groups involved.

Srinagar base is the home to the No. 51 Squadron of the Indian Air Force. Its MiG-21Bison fighter jets clashed with Pakistan’s F-16s during a dramatic flare-up of cross-border tensions in February.

Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was shot down and later returned by Islamabad to India, was stationed at Srinagar until he was deployed to a different site last month.

The aerial combat happened a week after India had sent jets into Pakistani territory to strike what it said were camps of terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which earlier claimed responsibility for attacks on Indian security forces and civilians.

New Delhi insists that Pakistan aids JeM and other militants to commit acts of terrorism against India. Pakistani officials strongly deny this.

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