Just hours after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 28 tourists dead, social media has erupted with claims of suspicious military movements by Pakistan.
Online flight tracking data appears to show Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft relocating from Karachi’s Southern Air Command to bases near the Indian border in Rawalpindi and Lahore. Screenshots circulating on the microblogging platform X show two specific aircraft:
● PAF198, a Lockheed C-130E Hercules transport plane.
● PAF101, an Embraer Phenom 100 jet often used for VIP or intelligence missions.
Observers speculate this sudden repositioning may be a preemptive move by Pakistan in anticipation of a Balakot-style Indian response. In 2019, after the Pulwama terror attack, India launched air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan. “Pakistan Air Force C-130 is doing rounds of PoK. Are they preparing for our reaction?” posted retired Indian Navy officer Cdr Sandeep Dhawan on X.
Egyptian journalist Khaled Mahmoued added, “Pakistan puts Air Force on high alert amid global anticipation of Indian response.”
Movements Have Not Been Officially Confirmed
The aircraft movements have not been officially confirmed by the Pakistani or Indian authorities, and no formal alert has been issued. However, the timing of these developments - immediately following one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley in recent years - has fuelled widespread speculation. The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, calling it retaliation against the Indian government's domicile policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
As India mourns the victims, the possibility of a retaliatory strike looms large, heightening tensions along one of the world’s most volatile borders.
