DGMO calls out India for targeting civilians

Pakistan Army, as a professional force, has never targeted civilians: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani military commander on Monday spoke to his Indian counterpart to convey a strong protest over the recent “deliberate targeting” of innocent civilians by India forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that a special hotline contact was established between the directors general of military operations (DGMO) of the Pakistan and Indian armies.

“Pakistan’s DGMO protested on recent deliberate targeting of innocent civilians along LOC resulting in civilian casualties,” the military’s media wing added.

DGMO Major-General Sahir Shamshad Mirza said Indian troops were deliberately targeting innocent civilians including children and said that such deliberate actions were serious concern and violation of a 2003 agreement.

On allegations of targeting of civilians by Pakistan Army, Maj-Gen Mirza clarified that “Pakistan considers people living across the LOC as our brethren and Pakistan Army, as a professional force, has never done this.”

Relations between Pakistan and India have continued to deteriorate in recent months with frequent exchange of fire along the de facto border that divides Kashmir between the two countries and along the working boundary.



This year alone, Pakistan says dozens of civilians have been killed and many more wounded in unprovoked Indian firing along the LoC and working boundary.

In addition, 2017 has seen both sides accuse the other of forcing bilateral ties to a stalemate. Pakistan insists that India forces are deliberating keeping the LoC and working boundary on the boil in order to divert global attention from the current unrest in Indian-occupied Kashmir.