Army kills five Indian soldiers after school van targeted along LoC

DG ISPR says Indian unethical and unprofessional approach across the LoC continues terrorising civilians

Hours after a school van was targeted in Battal sector along the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistani forces retaliated and destroyed an Indian Army check post, killing five soldiers and injuring several others on Thursday.

A statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the Pakistani troops targeted the same check post from where the school van was attacked in Tatta Pani (hot spring) sector.

“Indian terrorism against innocent citizens shall be responded befittingly,” added the media wing of Pakistani military.

Indian Army post on LOC targeting innocent citizens destroyed by Pak Army troops in Tatta Pani (Hot Spring) sector. Five Indian soldiers killed, many injured. Indian terrorism against innocent citizens shall be responded befittingly. pic.twitter.com/MHWv4Xc97n

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 15, 2018

Driver of the school bus was martyred in the Indian attack.

The Indian aggression was castigated by the top military spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor.

He wrote on Twitter: "Indian unethical and unprofessional approach across the LoC continues terrorising civilians."

Indian unethical and unprofessional approach across LOC continues terrorising civilians. Targetted van carrying school children in Battal sector in violation of Geneva Convention & ceasefire understanding. Van driver embraced shahadat. pic.twitter.com/QHiuqbJP7k

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 15, 2018

The DG ISPR reiterated that such attacks are a violation of the Geneva Convention and a clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

He also tweeted a video of a local schoolgirl who described the horror as an eyewitness to the attack.

Indian terror described by a girl student inside school van targetted today in Battal Sector. pic.twitter.com/TeC4iNT4X6

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 15, 2018

Pakistan has repeatedly condemned increasing ceasefire violations by Indian forces due to which, several civilians have lost their lives.

Islamabad has been urging New Delhi to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate the incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC.

However, the violation of the truce has still been continuing.