Ceasefire violation: Pakistan summons India’s deputy high commissioner

Indian forces kill two more people during a crackdown in IOK

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh to the Foreign Office to protest against the Indian forces’ recent ‘unprovoked’ ceasefire violations of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Chirikot Sector.

The firing incident that took place on September 2 resulted in the death of an 8-year-old girl, Momina, at village Polas. On that day, Indian forces also targeted Kakuta and Nullah villages along the LoC.

The Foreign Office said the deliberate targeting of civilians was indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws. “Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations,” added an FO statement issued on Monday.

It urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire deal, investigate into this and other incidents of ceasefire violations and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit.

The FO also called upon India to maintain peace on the LoC and permit the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

In 2017 to date, Indian forces have carried out more than 700 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, resulting in the death of 30 civilians and injuries to 113. In 2016, a total of 382 ceasefire violations had taken place.

Two more killed in Indian Occupied Kashmir

Indian forces on Monday killed two more people in alleged gun battle, while a manhunt was under way for more militants in the disputed Himalayan territory.

According to AFP soldiers and special counterinsurgency police forces surrounded a neighbourhood in Sopore, 45 kilometres from Srinagar, after receiving a tip-off that armed militants were hiding there, triggering a firefight.

"Two militants killed in an encounter with police," police said in a statement, adding that a search was on for others suspected of being holed up in the area.

In recent months, the Indian army has stepped up its hunt for freedom fighters in the Kashmir valley after deploying thousands of additional troops for an offensive dubbed "Operation Allout". At least 140 suspected militants have been killed since the beginning of the year.

The latest gun battle came two days after Indian troops shot dead a suspected militant in southern Kulgam town, hours after militants separately ambushed a police bus in Srinagar, killing one officer and wounding seven.  [WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES]