Indian airspace-violation: PoK 'PM' claims chopper was within Pakistani limits
What's the story
Pakistan occupied Kashmir's (PoK) "Prime Minister" Raja Farooq Haider has claimed that the white chopper he was traveling in was "very close" to the Line of Control (LoC) but within Pakistan's airspace. The Indian Army yesterday said that a Pakistani chopper violated the Indian airspace along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district but turned back after it was "engaged by air sentries".
Details
Haider was traveling with two ministers, personal staff officer
Indian officials claimed that the white helicopter crossed into the Indian airspace in Gulpur sector and hovered over there for some time before turning back. Three forward posts fired small arms after noticing the airspace violation. Meanwhile, Haider said he was traveling with two ministers and his personal staff officer in a civilian white-colored aircraft yesterday and the incident took place around 12:10 pm.
Defense
It was civilian helicopter, Army shouldn't have opened fire: Haider
"I had gone to Forward Kahuta to condole the death of one of my ministers' brother... While we were passing through Abbaspur, the Indian Army suddenly opened fire... Luckily, we remained unhurt," Haider said. Admitting to being "very close to zero line," he said, "But we were within our space. Moreover, it was a civilian helicopter so the Indian Army shouldn't have opened fire."
Plans
Will take up the matter with Pakistan Government, says Haider
63-year-old Haider, who is the 9th Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir or PoK, further said that military helicopters, on both sides, intimate each other before flying according to the standard operating procedure. He said he frequently travels in the area but such an incident never happened. He said that he would formally take up the matter with the Pakistan Government to take appropriate action.
Information
Attack was international, bilateral laws' violations: PML-N's Shahbaz Sharif
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif said the attack was a severe violation of international and bilateral laws and also against the diplomatic norms. Sharif's PML-N rules PoK of which Haider is a leading member.