Pakistan summons Indian envoy after 'spy drone' shot down

Islamabad

Pakistan summoned the Indian ambassador Thursday after a "spy drone" was shot down in disputed Kashmir, as officials said five people were killed in cross-border shelling between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. 

The flare-up between the two countries, who have fought three wars since 1947, comes days after their prime ministers met in Russia in an apparent sign of a thaw in relations.

The Pakistani military said Wednesday that troops had shot down "an Indian spy drone used for aerial photography" close to the de facto border in Kashmir.

A picture in Pakistani media purportedly of the downed drone showed a small lightweight model of a type widely available for commercial purchase. 

The Indian Army and Air Force both denied any of their drones had been shot down or had crashed, according to a Press Trust of India report. 

Following the incident, Pakistan's foreign ministry hauled in the Indian high commissioner, or ambassador, to hear a "strong protest over airspace violation", a statement said.

The ministry said the intrusion of the drone, which came down in the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir, was a violation of international law and territorial integrity.

Pakistan also protested to the envoy over what it called "unprovoked ceasefire violations" along the disputed border.