New Delhi, December 18
India today asserted that it had not violated the Pakistani airspace as has been alleged by Islamabad in a note verbale handed over to the Indian mission in the neighbouring country.

Responding to questions, external affairs ministry spokesman Vishnua Prakash told the media, “Today morning the Pakistani foreign office handed to our mission in Islamabad a note verbale alleging airspace violations by an Indian aircraft five days ago. These same allegations were first reported in the Pakistani and international media for several days and are a part of Pakistani disinformation campaign.”

The spokesman said it had been made clear by India to Pakistan when these news reports appeared that no violations of the Pakistani airspace by the Indian aircraft had taken place.

This was also conveyed to the Pakistani side when the Pakistan director general of military operations (DGMO) raised it verbally with his Indian counterpart on December 16, three days after the alleged violations.

“The note verbale given by the Pakistani foreign office today will be examined and responded to appropriately by the Government of India,” the spokesman added.

Islamabad: India’s deputy high commissioner Manpreet Vohra was handed over a note regarding the alleged airspace violations by Pakistan’s additional secretary (South Asia) Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry during a meeting at the Foreign Office this morning. The note conveyed Pakistan’s concerns about the incident and sought an explanation from India. — PTI