'Pak needs to do more for friendship than return chopper'

Kolkata, Oct 25: Pakistan needs to do "much more" to demonstrate that it is a "friendly neighbour" to India, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju said on Tuesday after Islamabad released an Indian helicopter which strayed into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"It was an isolated incident where a helicopter had strayed (into Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) due to weather conditions. But, I think Pakistan has to do much more to demonstrate that they are a friendly neighbour," Raju told reporters here to a question whether Pakistan's gesture would strengthen Indo-Pak relations.

Dismissing reports in a section of the media that Pakistan had downloaded information from the strayed helicopter about helipads of the Army's 14 Corps, he said, "There was no secret information on that helicopter.

"It contained regular information that is needed for a flying machine. So I don't think that has happened."

He said while India's adversaries would constantly try to secure confidential information, "this does not mean we are not taking safeguards. We are taking every precaution to maintain confidentiality of what is important.

"At the same time, we are also stepping up defence preparedness and you can be sure we are prepared at all times."

PTI