Zarvan
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The Pakistan army claimed to have shot down an Indian spy drone. India has denied it
NEW DELHI: Top union ministers will meet today to discuss ceasefire violations and claims by Pakistan that it has shot down an Indian "spy plane" for intruding into its territory. India has denied these claims, which officials say counter the spirit of the joint statement following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif last week.
Here are 10 developments in the story:
- In the meeting this morning, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aijaz Ahmed Chaudhary protested against "cross bordering firing by India" and also claimed that an Indian spy plane had been shot down for violation of airspace.
- A statement from the Pakistan foreign office said: "An Indian UAV (Spy Drone) entered Pakistan's air space in violation of the international law, Pakistan's territorial integrity... The UAV was brought down by Pakistani troops."
- High Commissioner TCA Raghavan denied that the drone was Indian, and asserted that it was Pakistan that fired first at the border.
- The Pakistan army alleges that India was using the drone for aerial photography near the Line of Control and it was shot down in the Bhimber area of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir for "violation of Pakistan's territorial integrity."
- The claim has been questioned because the drone does not appear to be of the kind used by India. Indian officials say the drone is used for highway patrolling, and could have belonged to the police of Pakistan's Punjab province.
- Indian government sources called it a "strange coincidence that Pakistan claimed it shot down an Indian drone soon after the violation" on Wednesday.
- A woman was killed and six, including two soldiers, were injured in heavy firing from across the border in Jammu's Akhnoor sector.
- In more firing this morning in Jammu, three villagers have been injured at the RS Pura sector.
- The ceasefire violations come just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu on Friday.
- Last week, PM Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif held talks on the sidelines of a regional conference in Ufa in Russia. As part of breakthrough announcements after the talks, the two countries decided to arrange meetings of senior military officials to reduce tension along the border.
Pak Summons Indian Envoy After 'Spy Drone' Claim, Top Ministers to Meet: 10 Developments