ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Pakistani warplanes landed on a highway linking Peshawar and Rawalpindi on Thursday as part of an exercise, fuelling speculation that the armed forces were preparing for possible hostilities with India.

APAnti­India protestors gather in Islamabad on Thursday to express solidarity with Kashmiris.

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesman said F-7 and Mirage jets touched down on the M1 Motorway, a 155-km highway, as part of the “Highmark” exercise, media reports said.

Pakistani social media users posted footage of a jet landing on the highway.

Highmark, one of the PAF’s largest wargames, is expected to end on September 24.

Despite officials insisting that the exercise was planned in advance, the closure of the airspace and flights by combat jets led to rumours that Pakistan’s armed forces were preparing for a possible Indian attack, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Despite the air exercise, most Pakistani analysts and commentators ruled out a military confrontation .

“We are seeing a lot of tough talking but whether that translates into anything more substantial is doubtful,” commented leading analyst Lt Gen (retired ) Talat Masood. He said India-Pakistan ties have now settled into a “comfortable pattern” which usually has its high and low points. The only fear this time was whether India would want to break the pattern due to pressure on the Modi government.