Pak retracts alleged violation of airspace by IAF

Islamabad/New Delhi, Dec 14 (PTI) Pakistan Sunday
retracted its charge that Indian planes violated its airspace
with President Asif Ali Zardari saying it was a "technical
incursion."

"There are two versions about the incursions. My
version is the correct version," Zardari told a news
conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown here.

"Incursions do happen," he said adding that the planes
were flying at about 40,000 feet to 50,000 feet when they
executed a turn that "slightly entered Pakistan soil."

"It is not an incursion as such. It is a technical
incursion," Zardari said, easing tensions spiked by the Mumbai
terror attacks.

Pakistan Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Humayun
Viqar Zephyr too described the purported incident as a
"technical incursion of a minor nature made by mistake". He
told TV channels the PAF was not on red alert and was
performing its duties according to routine.

Earlier, Indian Air Force spokesman Wing Commander
Mahesh Upasani had rubbished the Pakistani claim and said
there had not been any violation of the Pakistani airspace.

Top officials in the IAF headquarters in New Delhi
said the episode seemed like "propaganda" and there was no
substance in the Pakistani claim.

The war of words between India and Pakistan on the
issue came as their armed forces girded up to a state of vigil
along the borders with tensions between New Delhi and
Islamabad mounting over the terror strikes in Mumbai, which
has been blamed on Pakistan-based elements.

Pakistan had contended that the Indian jets had
violated its airspace in the Lahore and Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir sectors at 11.30 am and 1.05 pm Saturday. The PAF
spokesman had said that the Indian jets were forced back by
Pakistani planes. PTI RHL
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