Indian diplomat summoned over unprovoked LoC firing

10-year-old boy martyred, 24 others were injured in Oct 10 ceasefire violations

Pakistan strongly condemned India’s continued unprovoked ceasefire violations and incidents of firing on civilian population along the Line of Control (LoC) by summoning the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Gaurav Ahluwalia to the Foreign Office on Friday.

Dr Mohammad Faisal, the chief FO spokespersons, specifically protested against Indian troops’ firing in Sharda, Nezapir, Satwal and Bagsar Sectors on October 10, according to a statement.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by Indian Army in Sharda sector, 10-year-old boy Faizan was martyred while 16 other innocent civilians, among them six children and two ladies, sustained serious injuries. In addition to that, two civilians including a woman in Nezapir, three including a child and a woman in Satwal Sector and one in Bagsar Sector also wounded in the unprovoked aggression.

One soldier martyred in cross-LoC firing by Indian troops: ISPR

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons for the last few years. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India started in 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.

“The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is 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,” Dr Faisal was quoted as saying in the statement.

The FO spokesperson urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement, investigate these 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 maintained that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.