By Muhammad Luqman
An Indian quadcopter spying across the Line of Control (LoC) was shot down by Pakistan Army on Friday, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The drone was shot down in the Rakhchikri sector of the LoC and the wreckage has been recovered by the Army.
The wreckage of the drone is under the custody of the Army, likely for analysis.
This is not the first incident of Indian drones violating Pakistan’s airspace, with the Army shooting down drones in the LoC area on previous occasions.
On November 19, 2016, an Indian drone was shot down by Pakistani troops at the Aagahi post area in the Rakhchakri sector.
The then DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa had said the quadcopter had intruded 60 metres inside Pakistani territory.
In another incident on July 15, 2015, an Indian spy drone, used for photography, was downed in the Bhimber area near the LoC after intruding into Pakistani territory, the ISPR said.
The drones are often used by Indian forces to spy and map Pakistani positions along the LoC and to determine troop dispositions.
Tensions along the LoC have significantly increased after the right-wing government of Narendra Modi came to power in India.
Firing across the LoC has become a regular practice by Indian troops and has inflicted material and
Pakistan opposes sale of US drones to India
Pakistan has opposed the sale of US drone missile system to India on the ground that the move will disturb the balance of power in the region.
“International powers must show responsibility before signing such agreements,” said Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria in his weekly press briefing.
Zakaria said that Pakistan informed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during his recent visit to Islamabad about the country’s initiatives in the war on terror. The US state official appreciated and recognised Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts.
The spokesperson said that during the meeting Pakistan also raised Indian state’s human rights violations in Kashmir, adding that Islamabad will continue to give its moral and international support to the people of the occupied valley.
Responding to a question, he said that India is an abettor of terrorism, and Pakistan raised the issue of Indian involvement in terror attacks inside the country.
