Pakistan summons Indian envoy over ceasefire violation

Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia and registered a strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on 29th and 30th resulting in the martyrdom of one civilian and serious injuries to five others.

“Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Kayani and Jura sectors of the LoC, on 29th and 30th June 2020, 16-year-old Muhammad Tauheed, s/o [son of] Muhammad Ismail, resident of Talwari village embraced shahadat,” FO said.

Among who sustained serious injuries were two-year-old Azad Ahmed, son of  Mushahid Ibrahim, six-year-old Aneesa Waqas, daughter of Muhammad Waqas, 28-year-old Siraj Din, son of Nizam Din, 16-year-old Sarmad Akram, son of Muhammad Akram and 42-year-old Abdul Qayyum , son of Junaid Ali. All were residents of Falakan village.

“The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-calibre mortars and automatic weapons. This year, India has committed 1,546 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 14 shahadats and serious injuries to 114 innocent civilians,” the Foreign Office said.

Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct, the communique stated.

The press release further added that these egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security.

“Raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K),” FO said.

The Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate the current and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB.

“The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions,” FO added.