Pakistani aircraft violates Indian airspace in J&K

NEW DELHI: A Pakistani aircraft reportedly violated Indian air space on Monday when it hovered over Indian territory for a minute in R S Pura sector in Jammu and Kashmir, sending an alarm in the security establishment. The incident comes at a time when India has sharpened its attack on Pakistan over atrocities with residents in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

The Indian Air Force radars are trying to ascertain what Pakistani aircraft was doing in Indian territory.

A Border Security Force jawan, posted near International Border in RS Pura sector in the valley, noticed the aircraft around 1.05 pm on Monday, said sources.

The sole eyewitness informed his seniors that he saw a small, silver colour six wing aircraft entering the Indian airspace and it flew back after one minute. "The jawan said that the aircraft was clearly inside Indian air space and definitely didn't belong to Indian Air Force. The IAF was immediately informed by seniors so that its location, route and other details could be assessed through radars," said a government official.

It was not confirmed whether it was a manned aircraft or a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle). Officials were not clear whether the aircraft belonged to Pakistani army or not.

While IAF was using its radars to get more details on the reported violation, the BSF will submit a report to ministry of home affairs.

However, government officials also said that it is being investigated whether BSF officer correctly noticed the aircraft in Indian airspace because he is not an expert on planes.

According to officials, India and Pakistan usually maintain four to five kms distance in the air neat the International Border (IB) to avoid chances of inadvertently crossing of the zero line.