LoC, WB firing ‘threat to regional stability’

Corps commanders review security environment; India handed demarche over border killing

ISLAMABAD: The military top brass on Wednesday termed continued ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB) a “potential threat to regional stability”.

The corps commanders’ meeting was held against the backdrop of recent Indian ceasefire violations along the LoC, resulting in the death of a Pakistani civilian. Ashfaq, 25, was a labourer who was killed when Indian forces resorted to ‘unprovoked firing’ in Khui Ratta Sector of the LoC on Tuesday.

While the corps commanders’ conference presided over by army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa denounced the ceasefire violations, a senior Indian diplomat was also summoned to the Foreign Office over the latest Indian firing along the LoC.

Taking note of the unabated ceasefire violence, the corps commanders viewed “continued unprovoked ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control/Working Boundary as potential threat to regional stability”.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement, said the military top brass reviewed the security environment and challenges.

They also condemned recent terrorist incidents in Afghanistan and expressed solidarity with the Afghan people and their security forces in defeating terrorism.

“[The] forum expressed satisfaction on [the] progress of counterterrorism/intelligence-based operations. [The] COAS directed that these operations to continue till achievement of desired end state,” the military’s media wing added.

Meanwhile, the Director General (SA & Saarc), Dr Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, JP Singh, and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation on February 7 by Indian occupation forces along the LoC (in Khui Ratta Sector).

The director general deplored deliberate targeting of civilians that he termed “a crime” as well as “violation” of international human rights and humanitarian laws.

He urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, stop targeting villages and civilians and maintain peace along the LoC.

In a related development, Additional Secretary (UN&EC) Tasnim Aslam, briefed ambassadors of foreign missions at the Foreign Office on the continuously aggravating human rights situation in Occupied Jammu & Kashmir against the backdrop of Kashmir Solidarity Day.

The additional secretary highlighted that Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed every year on February 5 to express Pakistan’s “unwavering diplomatic, moral and political” support to the oppressed people of Occupied Jammu & Kashmir in their legitimate struggle for the realisation of the right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

She stressed that the Jammu & Kashmir dispute is one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council.

“Indian brutalities in IOK had increased significantly after the extrajudicial killing of Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016. Gross violations of human rights of the people of IOK perpetrated by Indian occupation forces had resulted in 150 civilian deaths and injuries to more than 20,000,” Tasnim told diplomats.

She said inhumane use of pellet guns had caused serious injuries to thousands of innocent people, including young girls and children, and blinded hundreds completely or partially.

“India has deprived more than 1.5 billion people of this region peace and prosperity by refusing to resolve the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions and its own promises,” she added.

The additional secretary urged the international community to take up with India its gross human rights violations perpetrated in IOK at all levels to ensure “the misery and suffering of the innocent people of IOK is alleviated” and to play its role in the resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in line with the UNSC resolutions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2017.