Pakistan forces Indian chopper to land for violating airspace

Monday, 24 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

(Reuters) - Pakistan’s military forced an Indian army helicopter to land for violating Pakistani airspace on Sunday and detained four Indian army officers, the army said.

The helicopter intruded into Pakistani territory in Olding sector in northern Skardu region around 1:00 p.m (0800 GMT).

“The helicopter had came deep into our airspace. It was forced to land. Four Indian army officers have been taken into safe custody. They are safe,” military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas told Reuters.

Abbas said India had been informed of the incident and investigations were underway.

The two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals have fought three wars since their independence from British rule in 1947.

However, their relations have improved after they resumed a peace process this year which was suspended after co-ordinated attacks by Pakistan-based Islamist militants in the Indian city of Mumbai in 2008, that killed 166 people.