Unmanned Indian Plan Shot Down Inside Pak Territory

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, June 08, 2002

Unmanned Indian Plan Shot Down Inside Pak Territory

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An unmanned Indian aerial vehiclewas shot down by fighter aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) inside the Pakistani territory at 23:00 hours on Friday, a Saturday press release from the Inter Services Public relations said.

The press release said, "The Indian aerial vehicle was on reconnoissance and spying mission when it violated the Pakistani air space close to Lahore."

The violation was monitored and the PAF fighter jets intercepted the unmanned aircraft inside Pakistan's territory and shot it down.

The wreckage of the Indian aircraft fell close to the Pakistanitown of Raja Jang south of Lahore, capital of Punjab province.

India Admits Loss of Unmanned Plane

India has lost an unmanned aerialvehicle (UAV) late on Friday night near Lahore in Pakistan, according to a statement issued here on Saturday by India Defense Ministry.

However, the statement maintained that use of such drones in the current state of deployment of armed forces along the border with Pakistan was a "routine feature".

"One UAV lost contact around 23:00 on June 7 and is believed tohave fallen down within 20 kilometers south-south west of Lahore,"the ministry said in its statement.

"In the current state of deployment of the armed forces, the use of UAVs by either side is a routine feature," it added.

Earlier, reports from Islamabad said Pakistani jet fighter shotdown an unmanned Indian spy plane on Friday night near the border between the two countries.

A statement issued by Pakistan Air Force said that the plane was shot down about 11 PM on Friday and crashed near the town of Raja Jang south of Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan.

Spokesman of the Pakistan government Rashid Quereshi reportedlysaid the incident was the latest example of India's "complete disregard" for "international norms".

The incident took place at the time when the international community tried to defuse the escalated tension between India and Pakistan.

United State Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who arrived here on Friday following his talks in Islamabad with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, had held talks with Indian leaders including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on de-escalation of tension between the two neighbors.

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