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ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan's Kashmir-based chief of state said Sunday that Indian troops fired on his helicopter near the border, which could worsen relations between the two countries.
The predominantly Muslim Kashmir is divided between its nuclear-armed neighbors, who both claim the mountainous region and have waged two of their three wars since their separation in 1947.
Farooq Haider Khan, prime minister of Pakistan-controlled Azad Kashmir region, said his civilian helicopter had been fired at the Indian army by the line of control, which is de facto a border between the two countries.
"The Indian army fired to show that Pakistan had violated its airspace," Khan's office said in a statement, adding that "when the firing took place, we were in our own airspace" .
Indian Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said a Pakistani helicopter violated Indian airspace along the line of control in Poonch District at noon local time (6:30 am GMT).
"It could probably be a civilian helicopter and was flying high. The air sentries located in the front had engaged with small arms, "Anand said.
Relations between India and Pakistan appeared to be deteriorating in recent months as violence and shelling across the line of control were suppressed by both sides.
Pakistan's new prime minister, Imran Khan, also offered an olive branch to India when he took office in mid-August, promising to restore ties, but in recent weeks relations have deteriorated further. in a context of high-level diplomatic confrontations.
India has accused Pakistan of continuing to help Indian-controlled Kashmir militants, which Pakistan denies, and scheduled talks between senior officials at the UN meeting in New York this month have been canceled.
Khan, the leader of Kashmir, said his helicopter was in no way armed and called for tranquility.
"We do not want war hysteria in this region."
Additional report by Fayaz Bukhari; Written by Drazen Jorgic; edited by Jane Merriman
