Pakistan spying on India? Suspicious balloon like object seen in Barmer was from Pakistan, confirms Manohar Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has issued a warning to Pakistan, discouraging it from engaging in such activities in the future. "It seems like Pakistan was testing our response", said Parrikar.

Barmer, January 27: The balloon like object that was seen hovering in the skies of Barmer in Rajasthan on Tuesday was confirmed to be from Pakistan, officials said on Wednesday. The object had been said to be carrying no dangerous weapons of any sort after it was brought down by a fighter jet of the Indian Air Force. Reports said on Wednesday that this can become a point of contention between the two country’s security forces, as India is determined to take this up with Pakistan.

Reports claimed that the defence minister has been briefed about this new development and that he is not taking it lightly. India is expected to take the issue up with Pakistan and possibly warn the country against repeating this in future. The suspicious object was spotted at around 10:30 – 11 AM by the IAF. Subsequently, the Air Force launched a fighter jet to bring it down. Investigations are currently under way to ascertain the nature of the intercepted object. Also Read: IAF fighter brings down balloon shaped suspicious object in Barmer, Rajasthan; investigation underway

However on analysis of the object, it was not found carrying any dangerous offload. “On the analysis of the debris, it was established that there was no dangerous payload,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha told ANI on Wednesday. Sources had confirmed that it was a private object and although the possibility of it carrying any spying apparatus was primarily ruled out, the suspicion is expected to arise again, after the latest development.

The IAF radar had picked up the unidentified balloon like object moving easterly in Jaisalmer area, sending the authorities into a tizzy. A fighter jet intercepted the object which was found to be balloon of about three meters diameter. “Due to heightened security alert, the balloon was shot down,” Ojha said.

(Image for representational purposes)