Pakistan trying to destabilise us, says PM Modi in BJP programme

Attacking the neighbouring nation, Modi said: "The enemy tries to destabilise us, carries out terror attacks, they want to stop our growth."

The PM was addressing the 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' video conference where he was interacting with party workers.

He said the Indian soldiers should be given support and confidence by the countrymen.

He urged party workers to contact with first time voters and other citizens ahead of the Lok Saba polls.

Modi addressed the video conference at a time when relationship between India and Pakistan have deteriorated following the Pulwama attack on Feb 14 which left 40 Indian paramilitary force personnel killed.

Meanwhile, a day after the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a response to the Pulwama attack, Pakistan claimed that it has shot down two aircrafts of the IAF and captured a pilot.

The neighbouring nation also released a video and claimed that it is of an Indian  pilot named Abhinandan.

In response to the claims, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: "The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force."

"The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts," he said.

In the Pulwama attack, which was carried out by the JeM, over 40 Indian paramilitary personnel were martyred.

In the surgical strike, India claimed a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated.