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Indian Fighter Jets Shot Down over Kashmir as Tensions Soar
Pakistan shot down two Indian aircraft and launched air strikes at six targets in Indian-administered Kashmir, Pakistan army said on Wednesday.
Addressing at a press conference Pakistan’s Army spokesman Asif Ghafoor said that the country’s air forces have shot down two Indian fighter jets inside the Pakistan airspace.
He also said that one Indian pilot was arrested by troops on the ground.
Ghafoor added that one of the crafts fell inside Pakistan and the other fell inside the Indian Territory.
However, the Indian government has not officially refused the claim but confirmed that it has lost one MiG21 jet and a pilot is also missing.
“Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts,” Indian’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
According to the statement, a Pakistan F-16 fighter jet was also shot down by the Indian Air Force on Wednesday while Pakistani fighter jets entered Indian airspace to target military installations on the Indian side.
“The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side,” the statement added.
This comes as on Tuesday the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke separately with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan and urged them to avoid “further military activity” following an air strike by India inside Pakistan.
“We encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost,” Pompeo said Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Indian aircraft entered Pakistani airspace in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in targeted a militants camp, where dozens of Jaish-Mohammad fighter and commanders were killed.
Pakistan claims that there were no casualties in the strike.
It was the first time Indian jets had entered and fired while within Pakistani airspace since a war between the two countries in 1971.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a 30-year agreement with a private company to extract marble in Daikundi province.
Under the contract, the company will invest AFN 283 million in exploring and mining marble at the “Mesh-Uliya” site, spanning 16.74 square kilometers in central Daikundi.
Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that the marble will be processed domestically before being exported abroad. He added that the Mesh-Uliya project is expected to create around 200 jobs, and the company is committed to supporting local communities through social initiatives.
Economic experts highlight that such investments, especially those focusing on domestic processing, are crucial for job creation, boosting exports, and strengthening the national economy. Analysts further note that the project will improve local infrastructure, expand social services, and enhance the economic and social well-being of Daikundi residents.
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, efforts to develop Afghanistan’s mining sector have intensified, with multiple contracts signed in areas including cement, copper, iron, and lapis lazuli, involving both domestic and international companies.
A passenger bus veered off the Salang Highway before dawn on Sunday, leaving five people dead and 44 others injured, the Ministry of Public Works said.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. in the Shawol area of North Salang when a passenger bus deviated from the main road due to the driver’s negligence.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said five passengers were killed and 44 others sustained injuries. He added that personnel from the Salang Maintenance and Protection Directorate promptly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the Khunjān clinic for medical treatment.
The Ministry of Public Works has urged drivers and passengers traveling on the Salang Highway to strictly follow the instructions of on-duty teams, observe traffic regulations, and carry warm clothing, food supplies, and snow chains to prevent similar incidents.
The ministry also noted that heavy snowfall and stormy weather have led to the temporary closure of the highway, while road maintenance teams are continuing snow-clearing operations.
Latest News
Major fire in Mandawi Kabul market contained, extensive losses prevented
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
The Ministry of Interior reported that personnel from the General Directorate of Firefighting and Emergency Response successfully prevented the further spread of a fire at Mandawi market on Kabul early Sunday morning.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that the fire destroyed 10 storage facilities and 8 shops. He added that initial losses are estimated at around $700,000, but timely action by firefighting personnel saved property worth approximately $2.2 million.
Qani explained that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He praised the rapid and effective containment operations, which prevented more extensive damage.
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
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