Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar Addresses the Media on the Drone Controversy, Ceasefire Violations: Highlights

On Jul 16, 2015

NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar addressed the media regarding the drone controversy, and the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control with Pakistan.

Here are the highlights of his speech:

On 15 July, around 8:50 Pakistani rangers resorted to sniper fire along the border.
NSA spoke to our High Commissioner in Islamabad, asking him to take up the issue with Pakistan.
No response by Pakistan to our demarche, instead intermittent firing continued in Akhnoor sector till 16:50 hrs yesterday.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner claimed firing had been initiated by the Indian side and a drone had been brought down.
The NSA inquired why conversations weren’t initiated by Pakistan, if firing was started by the Indian side.
The Pakistani government has now sought to shift responsibility of the firing to the Indian side.
Photograph of drone in question shows it is not of Indian design or available in the inventory of the Indian Armed forces.
The drone appears to be of Chinese design and is available off the shelf.
We remain committed to steps that contribute to ensuring tranquility and peace along the border.
But there should be no doubt that any unprovoked firing from the Pakistani side will result in retaliation.