Pakistan blames India for its own 'Made in China' 'spy' drone?

Pic Courtesy: Inter-Services Public Relations

New Delhi: In a clear attempt to deflect attention from its tactic support to 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Pakistan has triggered a controversy by claiming to have shot down an Indian drone, that was on a “spying mission”.

While India has denied ownership of the drone, Pakistan appears adamant to link India to the drone so as to further its position on India's alleged involvement in spy activities on its soil.

The Pakistan foreign office, Thursday, summoned Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan to lodge an official protest.

This despite new revelations that the DJI Phantom-3 drone is an `Made in China` device. However, the fact is that Indian security agencies don't buy equipment from China.

Secondly, the Phantom drone can be bought off the shelf by anyone, including civilians – it's of little use for the military.

Also, media reports claimed that such drones are used by the Pakistan Police to monitor traffic, thereby opening up the possibility of the Pakistan Army having shot down one of its own drones.

The Pakistan Army, yesterday, claimed to have shot down an Indian “spy” drone which it alleged was being used for aerial photography near the Line of Control.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a brief statement, said the Indian drone was brought down near the Line of Control in Bhimber area of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Army claimed that the drone was being used for aerial photography and was “brought down for violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity.”

However, a spokesperson of the Indian Army said, "some reports of a drone crash in PoK are being referred to. No drone or UAV crash of the Indian Army has taken place."

The incident comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif's ice-breaking meeting in Russia.