UN observers visit working boundary

UN observers met villagers and gathered firsthand account of damage caused to lives and property

A team of UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan visited on Monday and Tuesday the villages which have been badly hit by Indian firing in Charwah, Chaprar and Pukhlian sectors on the working boundary near Sialkot

“Team of UN observers met the villagers, witnessed and gathered firsthand account of damage caused to human lives and property due to recent Indian hostility on the working boundary,” an ISPR press release stated.

More than 12 people have been killed and 64 others injured in Indian firing along the LoC and working boundary over the past two weeks. Unprovoked Indian firing has triggered an exodus of people from the villages near the LoC and Working Boundary.

“Indians have committed  24 ceasefire violations on working boundary and 26 on Line of Control since October 1and have been targeting civil population living in villages all along the working boundary,” the press release read.

“Day to day living of civillian population all along working  is badly affected. People have almost fled their homes and taken refuge in nearest safe places,” it added.

The observation team also visited the Combined Military Hospital Siaklot and met civilians who are injured due to ‘unprovoked’ firing by the Indians.

Pakistan on October 9 lodged a strong protest with the UNMOGIP over the recent border clashes and asked the UN team to visit the working boundary and LoC .

Pakistan upholding the UN resolution utilizes the office of UNMOGIP to investigate such incidents or violations by either of the nuclear-armed neighbours.

“It is also relevant to highlight that Pakistan offers full access to UNMOGIP observers to investigate and bring the facts in front of the world, however Indians have always been reluctant and deny access to UNMOGIP observers on their side,” ISPR asserted.

Earlier today, senior Pakistani and Indian military officials made contact after days of intense cross-border firing in the disputed region of Kashmir heightened tensions.

Pakistan’s military said it had voiced concern at continued Indian firing across the disputed frontier.

Clashes occur regularly along the Line of Control, as well as along the working boundary. However, the latest shelling which began over a week ago, has been unusual in its intensity and frequency.