Though the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir is holding on the ground, as many as 18 violations of Indian air space by helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles were detected this year.
"A total of 17 incidents of helicopter and one incident of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle violating the Indian air space have been reported during the current year," Defence Minister A K Antony told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The bulk of air intrusions were reported between January and March, the minister said.
Figures tabled in the House reveal that there were as many as seven intrusions by helicopters from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in January, two in February and five in March.
The minister said most of these intrusions had happened in earthquake-affected areas of Titwhal, Tangdhar and Uri in North Kashmir and were probably by aircraft on relief operations.
The minister said there was an intrusion by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in August and three more by Pakistani army helicopters in October and November. The figures tabled in Parliament indicate a sharp rise in air intrusions as last year, only one or two such cases were reported.
"The matter is taken up with the concerned country through diplomatic channels as per the established procedure," the minister said.
The government also informed the Rajya Sabha that there was no move to increase the strike range of the 300-km Indo-Russian Brahmos supersonic cruise missile in its future version.