SOURCE: AFI
India and Pakistan have long maintained a fragile agreement that restricts the movement of military aircraft, including fighter jets, near their shared borders. Under the terms of this understanding, both sides are prohibited from operating military jets within a 10-kilometer buffer zone along the border to reduce the risk of accidental escalation and to maintain a basic level of trust.
However, in recent years, there have been multiple instances where this agreement has been breached — particularly by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Fighter jets and other military aircraft have frequently been seen coming dangerously close to, and at times crossing, the 10-kilometer mark. Each of these breaches carries a significant risk of sparking a larger military confrontation, whether intentional or accidental.
Despite repeated violations, India’s response has often been measured, with Indian Air Defence (AD) batteries operating under strict engagement protocols to avoid escalation. While caution is important, restraint should not come at the cost of national security and operational readiness.
The 10km buffer zone has been violated multiple times, with the 2019 Balakot crisis serving as a stark example. On February 26, 2019, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted the Balakot airstrike, targeting a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, following the Pulwama attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. The IAF’s Mirage 2000 jets breached Pakistani airspace, dropping precision-guided munitions. Pakistan’s air defense systems failed to intercept the incursion, highlighting vulnerabilities in its airspace monitoring.
Other incidents underscore the pattern of violations. On April 10, 1959, a PAF F-86 Sabre intercepted an IAF Canberra on a reconnaissance mission over Pakistani airspace. In December 2008, the PAF claimed to have intercepted two IAF jets “a few kilometers” inside Pakistani territory, a claim India denied. On February 28, 2019, Indian officials alleged another PAF incursion over the Poonch and Krishna Gati sectors, though no combat ensued. These incidents demonstrate a recurring disregard for the 10km buffer zone, particularly by the PAF, which has exploited the agreement’s lack of enforcement mechanisms to test India’s resolve.
India’s Air Defence systems, particularly the S-400, can detect and neutralize targets at ranges up to 400km, well beyond the 10km buffer zone. The S-400’s ability to track stealth aircraft and counter advanced jets like the PAF’s F-16s and JF-17s provides a credible deterrent. Granting these systems operational autonomy would leverage India’s technological edge to enforce the buffer zone.
Engaging PAF jets within the 10km zone, even in Pakistani airspace, is a proportionate response that avoids deeper strikes into Pakistani territory, reducing the risk of full-scale conflict. Unlike airstrikes, surface-to-air missile (SAM) engagements are defensive and can be calibrated to minimize escalation while asserting India’s right to protect its airspace.
The PAF’s actions during Operation Swift Retort, including targeting Indian military installations and violating Indian airspace, justify a proactive Indian response. Pakistan’s own air defense systems, such as the Chinese HQ-9, are deployed near the LoC, indicating its willingness to engage Indian aircraft. India must match this posture to maintain deterrence parity
Modern air defence systems are capable of rapidly tracking and targeting hostile aircraft. If Indian forces are constrained by excessive caution, they risk allowing adversaries to exploit these protocols to their advantage. A strong and immediate response to any breach would send a clear message: the buffer zone agreement must be respected, and repeated violations will no longer be tolerated.
India remains committed to maintaining peace along its borders, but peace cannot be one-sided. Robust deterrence — including visible readiness to engage violators — is essential to ensure agreements are honored and the lives of civilians and soldiers are protected.
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