India to raise balloon issue with Pakistan

New Delhi, Jan 28: India will raise with Pakistan the issue of a balloon coming from that country which was shot down by an IAF fighter aircraft over Rajasthan, External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday, Jan 28.

"The Defence Ministry has written to the MEA and we will raise it (the issue) with Pakistan, the ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here."

On January 26, a US-made helium-filled balloon was shot down by a Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft over Rajasthan with top government sources maintaining that it had come from Pakistan and could have been an attempt to gauge India's response time.

The shiny 3 metres in diametre balloon, with "Happy Birthday" written on it, was flying at a height of about 25,000 feet in Jaisalmer district when it was picked up by the air force radars which were on high alert in view of Republic Day celebrations.

PTI