‘Attempt to malign’: Pakistan dismisses report of soldier’s alleged mutilation

Indian media on Tuesday claimed that in a cross LoC attack suspected militants killed three Indian soldiers

Our Correspondent November 23, 2016

A Pakistani soldier patrols a village in district Bhimber near the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-administered Kashmir during a media trip organised by the Pakistani army on October 1, 2016. Tensions have been simmering for months between India and Pakistan, but were dangerously ratcheted up, when India claimed it had carried out "surgical strikes" across the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in disputed Kashmir. / AFP PHOTO / ISSAM AHMED

ISLAMABAD: Calling them baseless and fabricated, Islamabad has strongly dismissed reports regarding mutilation of the body of an Indian soldier after an alleged attack across the Line of Control (LoC) in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK).

Indian media on Tuesday claimed that in a cross LoC attack suspected militants killed three Indian soldiers and later mutilated body of one of them.

Four civilians killed, 10 injured in Indian firing along LoC

“These reports are a fabrication and a blatant attempt to malign Pakistan,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Tuesday. It said the Pakistan Army – with its professional approach – is neither involved in any such unethical and non-professional activity nor it does support any such action.

“However, Pakistan is fully prepared and ready to respond to any misadventure across the LoC, Working Boundary or International Border,” the statement said.

On Tuesday, Pakistan also summoned a senior Indian diplomat at the foreign office to record a strong protest over the continued ceasefire violations by the Indian troops along the LoC.

“The Director General (South Asia & Saarc), Dr Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh and strongly condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations on Nov 21, by the Indian occupation forces on the LoC (Jandrot, Nikial, Karela and Baroh sectors), resulting in shahadat of 4 innocent civilians and injuries to 10 others,” said the statement.

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The DG said deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas was deplorable. He also condemned the violation of Pakistan’s Maritime Exclusive Economic Zone by the Indian Naval Submarine on Nov 14 in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and UNCLOS, investigate the continued incidents of violations.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2016.