Pakistan says Indian 'spy drone' shot down, Army denies

Pic Courtesy: Inter-Services Public Relations

New Delhi: An Indian spy drone was shot down by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday after it intruded into its airspace, as per a report.

According to Dawn news, the Pakistani military said the Indian drone was brought down for "violation of Pakistan's territorial integrity".

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.

After the meeting several breakthroughs were announced including a push for meetings between senior army officials of both sides.

Also earlier in the day, Pakistani troops along the International Border in Jammu violated ceasefire killing and three others, including a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, were injured.

The 42-year-old woman identified as Poli Devi died in the mortar shelling while 24-year-old Ramesh Kumar and 38-year-old Udha Devi suffered injuries, he said.

The ceasefire violation came two days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu to attend the centenary celebrations of former state finance minister Girdhari Lal Dogra.

It has become almost customary for Pakistan troops to violate the bilateral ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir each time a VVIP from the Central government visits the state.

(With Agency inputs)