Three children, woman martyred in Indian firing

Pakistan summons Indian envoy over 'unprovoked ceasefire violations' along Working Boundary


Our Correspondent May 18, 2018
Pakistan troops retaliated and stopped the firing, says ISPR. PHOTO: AFP/FIle

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday summoned the Indian high commissioner to lodge a strong protest over the latest ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Working Boundary near Sialkot, killing four members of the same family.

Among the martyred were Noor Hussain’s wife, his two daughters and a son. Ten others also wounded when Indian forces restored to ‘unprovoked firing’, according to the military’s media wing.

Those who died include Kalsoom, Mehwish, Safia and Hamza.

The Indian forces, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, targeted the civilian population. The firing prompted strong response from the Punjab Rangers, that targeted the posts where the fire was coming from.

Within hours of the latest border clashes, the Indian high commissioner was called to the Foreign Office by the acting foreign secretary.

Usually, Pakistan summons the deputy high commissioner. However, this time the Indian envoy was called in because of the severity of the ceasefire violation.

Elderly man killed in Indian firing along LoC

The Indian envoy was told that the Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary were continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons.

“In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 1,050 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the Shahadat of 28 innocent civilians, while injuring 117 others,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

“This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017, when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations,” the statement added.

It said deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas 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.

The acting foreign secretary 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 urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

COMMENTS (1)

Jaiprakash Mishra | 5 years ago | Reply All these deaths are most unfortunate....what is the imperative for fighting like two groups of animals? Germany got united, Vietnam was united, Korean may follow suit. Why can't Bangladesh, Pakistan and India again become one or if not at least form a common market? And eradicate the problems of poverty, unemployment,malnourishment and ignorance.
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