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the Indian air force earlier in the week. Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who attended the ceremony with other top civilian and military leaders, criticised India's action as barbaric and cowardly. He also disputed India's claim that the plane had entered Indian territory on Tuesday and that it was only shot down after acting in an aggressive manner. Wreckage of the French-built Atlantique was found near Sir Creek, a disputed border area about 100 kilometres (60 miles) southeast of the Pakistani port of Karachi and 150 kilometres (90 miles) northwest of the Indian city of Bhuj. Pakistan claims that Indian soldiers violated Pakistan's territory in order to steal parts of the aircraft, so India could claim the plane fell in Indian territory. The incident has once again raised tensions between the two warring neighbours. A Pakistani army spokesman on Wednesday said its forces had fired at least one missile at an Indian helicopter as it approached the crash site after security was tightened in the area. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Navy has criticised India for drawing them into the conflict, in which it claims to have previously held no role in. The latest confrontation has spoilt any immediate hope of moving relations between the world's newest nuclear powers back onto a peaceful track. Only a month ago India raised hopes for peace between the rival neighbours after it ended a major military campaign to dislodge Pakistani-backed insurgents in the disputed northern territory of Kashmir India and Pakistan came to the brink of their fourth war this summer during an 11-week confrontation in the region. India maintained the infiltrators were mainly Pakistani soldiers but Islamabad refuted the charge by saying they were Islamic Mujahedeen freedom fighters battling against Indian rule in Kashmir. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It's a barbaric act and Indians have gunned down a plane which had no capability in doing anything in self-defence. It didn't violate the Indian airspace. I think it's an act which is also very cowardly." SUPER CAPTION: Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Prime Minister SOUNDBITE: (English) "The Indians, through the statements of the Indian leadership, have been trying to take the conflict into this maritime sphere. There was no need to make statements after Kargil that they could have blocked Pakistan at sea. That had no relevance to the Kargil situation. And now they've succeeded in dragging the Pakistan Navy into this conflict. We of course have to defend our territory so we do have our marines and Naval special service group of people at that site." SUPER CAPTION: Admiral Fasish Bukhari, Navy chief The bodies of the servicemen will later be taken to their hometowns for burial. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/992e903e3cca6501b6ebdb4096a6c8c5