Army shoots down Indian drone spying across LoC: ISPR DG

Pakistan army has shot down an Indian drone spying across the Line of Control (LoC) in Rakhchikri sector, military’s spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor has said.

“Indian quadcopter spying across LOC in Rakhchikri sector shot down by Pak Army shooters. Wreckage held,” the ISPR director general said in a tweet on his official Twitter page.

Indian quadcopter spying across LOC in Rakhchikri sector shot down by Pak Army shooters. Wreckage held. pic.twitter.com/g9FG7EghPS

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) October 27, 2017

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 on the LoC area on previous occasions.

In November last year, an Indian drone was shot down by Pakistani troops in Aagahi post area in Rakhchakri sector.

The then DG ISPR Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa had said the quadcopter had intruded 60 metres inside Pakistani territory. The army had taken the wreckage of the drone into custody.

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 had 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 human losses on the Pakistani side of the border.

Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC and across the world observed Black Day on Friday to mark the illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India and to reiterate their pledge to continue the liberation struggle till complete success. A complete shutdown was observed in Occupied Kashmir and rallies were taken out in world capitals. The call for the shutdown was given by pro-freedom organisations.

In a tweet earlier in the day, ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor condemned Indian ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC). “Indian atrocities in the occupied territory could not deter the indigenous struggle of Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination,” he said in a tweet.

Indian atrocities in IOK can’t deter their indigenous struggle for self determination. Indian CFVs across LOC condemnable.#KashmirBlackDay

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) October 27, 2017

Pakistan has opposed the sale of US drone missile system to India raising concerns that the move can potentially disrupt the balance of power in the region.

“International powers must show responsibility before signing such agreements,” Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in the weekly press briefing earlier in the day.

Zakaria stated that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had been informed by Pakistan during his recent visit to Islamabad about the country’s continued efforts in the war against terrorism. The US state official had acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in the regard, he added.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan had also raised objections over India’s continuing violations of human rights in Kashmir, adding that Pakistan will not be deterred from providing moral and international support to the people of the occupied region. Responding to a question, Zakaria stated that Pakistan had raised the issue of Indian involvement in terror attacks inside the country.