Pakistani air force holds exercise: State airline

The Pakistani air force conducted an exercise yesterday causing delay to two civilian flights, an airline official said, as tension with old rival India simmered over last month's attacks in Mumbai.

"Two of our flights were delayed for some time because the PAF was conducting some exercises but now everything is back on normal," said Muhammad Latif, a spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines, referring to the air force (PAF).

The flights were delayed at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore, near the Indian border, Latif said, while dismissing television news channel reports of a high alert at Pakistani airports.