india

Updated: Jul 18, 2015 17:03 IST

A drone that was recently shot down and identified as an "Indian spying device" in Pakistan was on Saturday identified as having been manufactured in China, a state-run daily reported. The report came days after India made a similar claim.

The drone was "recognised in Beijing as the Chinese-made DJI phantom 3", the People's Daily reported, citing the Shanghai-based Observer website.

The Phantom 3 Advanced represents the most intelligent, most powerful, and most accessible drone to date, the report said. The drone sells for $1,200.

Islamabad had summoned Indian high commissioner TCA Raghavan on Thursday to protest what it termed "airspace violations", a day after it claimed to have shot down the 'Indian' drone. New Delhi later denied the charge.

DJI is a Chinese technology company founded in 2006 by Frank Wang and headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. It manufactures commercial and recreational unmanned aerial vehicles for aerial photography and videography.

Pakistan said on July 15 the drone was shot down by its army along the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations - the military's media wing - said the drone was equipped with a camera and was taking photos. It was shot down in Bhimbher sector along the Line of Control (LoC), it said.

A spokesperson of the Indian Army, however, said: "Some reports of a drone crash in PoK are being referred to. No drone or UAV crash of the Indian Army has taken place."

A day later, India said the drone was of Chinese make and was available off the shelf.

"We have seen the pictures. It looks like a Chinese drone, available off the shelf. It is not of Indian design, not of any unmanned aerial vehicle category held in Indian inventory," foreign secretary S Jaishankar had said.

India's rebuttal came as tension escalated along the LoC, following firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani forces. Indian forces have responded to the Pakistani action.

Also read:Indian Army denies reports of Pakistan shooting down its 'spy drone'

Drone doesn't belong to us, appears to be Chinese model: India