|
Pak Govt downplays Indian jets airspace breach
ISLAMABAD: The government has downplayed the Indian violations of its airspace, suggesting on Sunday that they were inadvertent and technical. Pakistani officials said Indian aircraft entered two to four kilometres inside Azad Kashmir and over Lahore on Saturday. Pakistani jets chased the Indian aircraft back over the border, authorities here said. Both sides are usually careful to avoid such territorial violations, and it was unclear how two separate but apparently accidental incursions could occur on the same day.President Asif Ali Zardari tried to dismiss the incidents, calling them technical incursions that have been blown out of proportion. Incursions do happen, he told a news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, saying the planes were flying at about 40,000 feet (12,000 meters) when they executed a turn that slightly entered Pakistan soil. India denied its aircraft crossed into Pakistani airspace. There has not been any airspace violation by the Indian air force as has been alleged, Indian air force spokesman Mahesh Upasani said Sunday. Pakistani officials seemed keen Sunday to avoid enflaming tensions. Air Force spokesman Humayun Viqar told Geo TV it may have been a technical violation because fighter jets fly at high altitudes and may have crossed the limits by mistake. He said an unspecified number of Indian aircraft crossed over at 11:30 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. Saturday. We are ready to deal with any misadventure, we are monitoring the situation, we are on alert, Viqar said. Pakistan Information Minister Sherry Rehman said in a statement that the Indian Air Force had told Pakistan the incursion was inadvertent. There is no need for undue alarm, she said. Posted by: john frum 2008-12-14 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=257226 |