Four soldiers martyred in cross-LoC fire

Indian envoy summoned to protest ceasefire violation in Jandrot sub-sector of Kotli sector

ISLAMABAD: In an escalation that prompted Islamabad to seek Washington's intervention, at least four Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom on Monday after Indian army resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC), targeting troops who were busy in line communication maintenance in the disputed Kashmir region.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the troops were fired upon and hit by a heavy mortar round in Jandrot and Kotli Sectors of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

“[The] exchange of fire killed three Indian soldiers while injuring a few,” the military’s media wing added.

The deadly incident promoted strong reaction from Pakistan, which summoned a senior Indian diplomat to the Foreign Office to record a formal protest over Indian troops’ latest ceasefire violation.

The Director General (SA & SAARC), Dr Mohammad Faisal, summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces, using heavy mortars, on 15 January in Jandrot sub sector of Kotli Sector, resulting in the shahadat of four Pakistani soldiers, while injuring five others.

“Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.

The statement added that in 2018, the Indian forces carried out more than 100 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary in just 15 days.

This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India was continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1,900 ceasefire violations, the Foreign Office maintained.

Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas and troops carrying out maintenance activities was indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.

“The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation,” he cautioned.

The Director General (SA & SAARC) urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He said that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

The latest border clashes came just days after the Indian army chief claimed that his country’s armed forces were ready to call Pakistan’s ‘nuclear bluff’.

His statement, however, drew strong condemnation from Pakistan, which called it as irresponsible and reckless.

The latest border clashes came at a time when President Trump’s special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan was on a visit to Islamabad. Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua raised the issue of India’s belligerence during her meeting with Ambassador Wells.

The Foreign Secretary urged the US to persuade India to show restraint and avoid escalation.

Meanwhile, India claimed to have killed five member of a militant group trying to slip into Occupied Kashmir.

"They crossed the Jhelum river which is de facto border inthe area. We allowed them to cross the river and challenged them. All of the five who crossed the river were killed," said an Indian officer, Major General Gulab Singh Rawat.

With additional input from Reuters