Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan says three Indian aircraft violate airspace, economic zone

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb. 17, IRNA
Pakistan-India-Aircraft
Pakistan said on Thursday that an Indian maritime aircraft and two Coast Guard Fast Crafts have violated its air space and Exclusive Economic Zone and a protest has been lodged with the Indian government over these violations.

The government of Pkistan has lodged a protest with the government of India through their High Commission Islamabad for the violation of its airspace and Exclusive Economic Zone by an Indian maritime aircraft and two Coast Guard Fast Patrol Crafts on February 13, 2006, the Foreign Office spokesperson said.

This provocative action by the Indian maritime aircraft is in contravention of the Pakistan-India Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movement of April 6, 1991 as well as neighborly relations and good seamanship practices, the spokesperson said in a statement.

She said that Indian Domier maritime aircraft made a number of low altitude passes over MSS Vehdat, a vessel of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency which was engaged in patrolling and apprehending/ clearing of Indian fishing boas involved in poaching well inside Pakistan's Exclusive Economic Zone at position 2329N 6735E at 0300 hours on February 13, 2006.

The aircraft again made repeated low altitude passes at about 1530 hours in approximately the same area.

Thereafter, around 1645 hours, two Indian Coast Guard fast petrol craft approached MSS Vahdat at 03 nautical miles in a proactive posture with manned armament pointing towards the Pakistani vessel, she said.

The spokesperson said that these Indian Fast Patrol Craft remained in the vicinity of the Pakistani vessel for approximately two hours before clearing away.

A similar demarche about these violations was made by the Pakistani High Commission with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, she said.

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