India rejects request for non-Indian helicopter crews
India has rejected Pakistan’s request for helicopters for relief work in the earthquake-hit region without Indian pilots and crews.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammed Khan called his Indian counterpart Shyam Saran in New Delhi yesterday by telephone and conveyed his country’s request, said a statement by India’s External Affairs Ministry.
“Saran conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart that it would not be possible for India to provide helicopters which are in service with its armed forces without pilots and crews.”
Yesterday, a Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement said given the obvious sensitivities, it could not accept involvement of Indian military on its side for relief operations.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over control of Kashmir, since they won independence from Britain in 1947.
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