The Pakistani military has claimed to have "detected" and "thwarted" an attempt by an Indian Navy submarine to enter Pakistani waters. A Pakistan Navy spokesperson said, "The Pakistan Navy used its specialised skills to ward off the submarine, successfully keeping it from entering Pakistani waters".
"The Indian submarine was not targeted keeping in view Pakistan's policy of peace," the spokesperson said.
The Pakistan Navy also released a video purportedly of the Indian submarine. The video, shot from air, shows the mast of a submarine above water.
Sources within the Indian defence establishment told India Today TV that they are "verifying" the video for authenticity. Initial scrutiny of the video suggests that the video is from 2016, he sources said, and its release now is part of a "propaganda stunt" by Pakistan.
The development today comes as tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad remain high following the Indian Air Force airstrike in Pakistan that took out Jaish-e-Mohammad's largest terrorist camp.
Please note: India Today has not yet verified the authenticity of the following video released by the Pakistan Navy: The development today caps days of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with fears that an armed conflict could break out between the two nuclear neighbours.
Here is what you need to know about the last few days:
On February 14, a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed into a bus that was part of a Central Reserve Police Force convoy. 40 jawans were martyred in the attack, which took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. India vowed a befitting response to the attack.
On February 26, the Indian Air Force entered Pakistani airspace and bombed a terrorist camp in Balakot. The camp was Jaish-e-Mohammad's largest. A large number of terrorists, trainers and commanders were killed in the attack, which India officially called an "intelligence-led, non-military, pre-emptive action".
A day later, Pakistani fighter jets attempted hitting military installations in Jamm and Kashmir. Indian MiG-21 jets scrambled to intercepted the Pakistani fighters and engaged them in a dogfight. Indian jets managed to shoot down an F-16.
In the February 27 dogfight, an Indian MiG-21 jet was shot down by the Pakistani fighters. The MiG's pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, fell in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and was taken into the custody of the Pakistani army.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released two days later by Pakistan in what PM Imran Khan said was a "peace gesture". Varthaman's release was seen as a development that would cool things down between India and Pakistan.
Skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani forces have continued. There have been multiple ceasefire violations across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been reports of shelling and heavy arms fire. Yesterday, Indian defence sources said that the Indian Air Force had shot down a Pakistani drone that crossed the border over Rajasthan.
Currently, tensions between India and Pakistan remain high. Militaries on both sides area on high alert and concerned world powers are making attempts to prevent India and Pakistan from ending up in an armed conflict.