India PakTensions war: “The F16s have been distributed all across Pakistani airbases and are still trained at us"

Separately a US official claimed both countries’ militaries are “on alert”. In February the two countries clashed militarily after Indian warplanes bombed suspected militant bases in Pakistan. It followed a suicide bombing in contested Kashmir which killed 40 Indian soldiers.

Speaking to Indian newspaper The Economic Times a source said: “The F-16s have been distributed all across Pakistani airbases and are still trained at us.

“They are continuing to undertake night flying and have their air defence network on alert.”

Indian jets bombed alleged militant sites in Pakistan on February 26, 12 days after the Kashmir attack.

They claimed to be targeting the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorst group, which claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.

It was the first time Indian aircraft have bombed militant targets inside Pakistan. A day later an Indian MiG-21 was shot down by Pakistani forces, and its pilot captured and later released.

There have also been numerous exchanges of artillery fire across the border between the two sides.

A US official commented: “We do still see the militaries on alert and so we realise if there, God forbid, would be another terrorist attack, then you could quickly see escalation in the situation once again.