Even as India and Pakistan continue to engage in a tussle over shooting of an alleged spy drone by Pakistani army and ceasefire violation in Akhnoor sector, former Indian diplomat Leela Ponappa feels that the need of the hour is to “look at the larger picture".
Speaking to CNN-IBN on the ongoing India-Pakistan tension, the former Indian diplomat pointed that there were “unrealistic expectations" after the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, Russia.
She asserted that India needed to be realistic its expectations from Pakistan as Sharif was not in a position to solely deliver anything on the bilateral front.
The former diplomat also hit out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying it was “out of place" for it to claim a major breakthrough in Ufa when it was not the case. According to Ponappa, it was “unnecessary and uncalled for".
She, however, added that bilateral engagement was the only thing that would work to normalise situations between India and Pakistan.
Ponappa further pointed that “we have to get our communication in order and keep patience" while dealing with the neighbouring country.
This came even as sources in India claimed that the alleged spy plane shot down by Pakistani Army could have belonged to police of Pakistan’s Punjab province, used to highway patrolling.
Intelligence sources claimed that the drone in the picture is a Chinese made DJI Phantom 3, and that India doesn't buy any drones from China. Terming it as a bizarre claim by Pakistan, sources said that India would respond through appropriate diplomatic channels.
Pakistan Army had claimed it shot down the drone in the Bhimber area of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Pakistani Army has alleged the drone was being used for aerial photography near the Line of Control (LoC).
This came just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Russia.
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