India violated truce 35 times since June 9

ISPR releases images retrieved from Indian drone downed near Bhimber

Our Correspondent July 27, 2015

A photograph obtained from the drone shows the Indian border post from where it was purportedly launched. PHOTO: ISPR

ISLAMABAD:

India has violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and working boundary 35 times since June 9, according to the Pakistani military’s media wing.

“A sudden spike both in terms of intensity, caliber escalation and air space violations by India has been observed along the LoC and working boundary,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Monday. “Since June 9, 2015, 35 ceasefire violations have been committed by Indian troops.”

The statement added that “India is exhibiting aggressive posturing through enhanced movement of troops, extensive reconnaissance, targeting of civilians and increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones violating airspace of Pakistan.”

“One such drone mission was flown by India on July 15, 2015… the quadcopter drone intruded from the Jaurian sector in Indian-occupied Kashmir and was flying over Banchirian sector near Bhimber when it was shot down by Pakistani troops,” the statement said.

It added that while Indian authorities denied the drone belonged to them, photos and video footage recovered from the aircraft’s internal memory “provides irrefutable evidence that it was flown by the Indian army for reconnaissance inside the Pakistani side of LoC.”

ISPR released some of the images and video clips which it said proved the drone began its flight from an Indian post.

“An image retrieved out of quadcopter proves that after the purchase of this quadcopter it was taken inside M/S ASCOM office, an Indian communication and electronics firm,” the statement said. “Another pre-flight picture indicates presence of an Indian soldier – who can be identified from his Indian uniform – standing in the vicinity of quadcopter.”

According to the ISPR, another image taken by the drone shows an Indian flag, “proving that it started its flight from an Indian post.” It added that visuals retrieved indicate that the quadcopter flew from Indian post with an Indian flag visible, remained close to the LoC facing the Pakistani side before crossing over and photographing a Pakistani post with the Pakistani flag partially visible.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2015.