New Delhi asks Pakistan to probe security breach
A drone was spotted over the Indian High Commission compound in Islamabad hours before a drone terror attack took place at the Jammu airbase on Sunday last. Taking exception to the embassy incident, India has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan.
In an official statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said here on Friday, “A drone was spotted over the premises of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on June 26. This has been taken up officially with the Government of Pakistan. We expect Pakistan to investigate the incident and prevent recurrence of such breach of security.”
The Indian mission lodged a protest through a note verbale which is a diplomatic communique, sources said here. They said the drone was sighted within the residential complex of the Indian High Commission. The apparent aim was to take close range photograph of the place and residents. The drone was sighted when an event was on within the High Commission complex. This was the first such incident at the Indian High Commission.
The embassy is located in a heavily guarded and secure area of Islamabad and the Pakistan security agencies provide protection to the Indian High Commission. There is reportedly a multi-tiered security system in place. Against this backdrop, the drone sighting was a matter of concern, they admitted.
Meanwhile, asked about the drone attack on Jammu airbase, Bagchi declined to comment, and only said the investigation into it is in progress.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval had raised the issue of drones being used by terrorists at the recent meeting of the NSAs of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Doval had specifically referred to the need to monitor new technologies used by terrorists, including drones for smuggling of weapons.
India is now facing the challenge as the first ever drone terror attack took place at the Jammu airbase. Given the gravity of the threat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week reviewed the situation and the country’s preparedness to meet this emerging danger. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and the NSA took part in the high-level meeting with Modi.
Rajnath held a series of meetings with the three Services chiefs after the drone terror attack obviously aimed at destroying the MI-17 helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) based at the Jammu airbase. Fighter jets are not based there. The helicopters and UAVs are actively used in anti-terrorist operations in Jammu & Kashmir.