India declines helicopters without pilots

India on Monday expressed inability to provide its armed forces' helicopters without Indian pilots to Pakistan to help relief work in quake-hit areas of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammed Khan spoke to his Indian counterpart Shyam Saran conveying Islamabad's willingness to have Indian helicopters but without Indian pilots and crews, spokesperson of external affairs ministry said in New Delhi on Monday.

"In his reply, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran conveyed to his Pakistani counterpart that it would not be possible for India to provide helicopters which are in service with its armed forces without pilots and crews", he said.