MUZAFFARABAD – The prime minister of Azad Kashmir remained unhurt after his helicopter came under Indian army fire near Line of Control (LoC) on Sunday.
Raja Farooq Haider was travelling along with LoC in his official white helicopter in Tarori area along Line of Control, where he went for condolence. Indian army, believing it Pakistan Army helicopter, opened fire at the aircraft.
In a statement, PM AJK Raja Farooq Haider said, “His staff remained unhurt and the helicopter was safely landed at Haveli.” In his reaction on the development, he said that the Indian forces are incompetent and a coward to fire on a civil helicopter.
“The Indian forces made the excuse that the helicopter crossed LOC,” he said. “They are lying. They are doing it because they are going for polls in coming days. I was travelling with my ministers.”
PM Haider said that he was not going with gunship helicopters and a civilian helicopter can even go to Zero line.
While Indian army on Sunday said, “Pakistan army violated airspace along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pir Panjal’s Valley’s Poonch district.”
“It could likely to be a civil chopper and was flying very high. The air sentries at forward location had engaged it with small arms,” said Indian defence spokesman Lt. Col. Devendra Anand.
However, the Indian army did not divulge further details on how long and how deep did the helicopter managed to fly in the Indian airspace. As per the agreement between India and Pakistan, helicopters are barred coming within 1 kilometre of the LoC on both the sides.
This comes 12 hours after Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire along the LoC in Kupwara.
