Cross-LoC fire: Indian envoy summoned over civilian deaths

Foreign ministry says 190 ceasefire violations committed so far this year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh and lodged a formal protest over the recent ceasefire violations that resulted in the martyrdom of two civilians and injuries to seven others, including two children.

According to the foreign ministry, the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC) happened in Nezapir, Nikial and Karela sectors on Sunday.

Director General at the South Asian Desk at the Foreign Ministry Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and condemned the cross-LoC shelling.



"The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary are continuously targeting the civilian populated areas with heavy mortars and automatic weapons," said the foreign ministry in a statement on Monday.

In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 190 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the WB to date, resulting in the deaths of 13 innocent civilians and injuries to 65 others, according to the latest foreign ministry data.

It said the "unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India" had been continuing since the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1,970 ceasefire violations.



“The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws,” the statement said, describing the ceasefire violations by India as a "threat to regional peace and security” which “may lead to a strategic miscalculation”.

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire so as to maintain peace and tranquillity on the LoC and the WB.

He said the Indian side should permit UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.