Row over Drone: Attempt by Pak Army to scuttle talks with India, says defence expert Sinho

Defence expert Major General S. R. Sinho (Retired) on Thursday said the latest allegations by Pakistan of India using a spy drone along the LOC, is an attempt by the Pakistan Army to scuttle peace talks with New Delhi.

"The latest accusation that has been made by the Pakistan Army that an Indian drone had to be shot down by the Pakistani Ranger because it was thought to be a spy, to be very frank, has been denied. It is another way by which Pakistan Army wants to stop talking with the Indian Government and stop ceasefire violations by accusing India of this drone," Major General S. R. Sinho (Retired) told ANI here.

He also said that India will give a befitting reply if Pakistan continued to indulge in such activities along the border.

"According to information, the drone was fired by the Pakistan police and also by mistake it has been destroyed by the Pakistan Army. It has Chinese making. India doesn't have drones of Chinese making. So Pakistan must know that India will give a suitable reply if Pakistan continues to indulge in these sort of activities along the border," he added.

Pakistan earlier today summoned India's High Commissioner to Foreign Office in Islamabad and lodged a protest over air space violation by an alleged Indian "spy" drone near the Line of Control and "ceasefire violation".

According to the statement issued by the Foreign Office, High Commissioner T C A Raghavan was called by the Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry to lodge the protest over air space violation at Banchirian Sector near LoC yesterday.

The Indian Army as well as the Indian Air Force, however, denied that any of their drone has been shot down or crashed.

Days after the two Asian neighbours agreed to re-engage, fresh strains surfaced in the ties on Wednesday after the Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire twice by resorting to firing and mortar shelling in the Akhnoor sector.