Indian Charge d’Affaires summoned to register protest over ceasefire violation

A minor girl was martyred and four civilians were injured in the incident

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan summoned on Sunday the Indian Charge d’Affaires to register strong protest over ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in martyrdom of a minor girl and serious injuries to four innocent civilians.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFa) stated that Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned to the ministry today to register Pakistan’s strong protest over ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on the night between September 11 and 12.

The statement maintained that due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Hotspring and Rakhchikri Sectors of the LoC, 10 year old Iqra Qamrez, daughter of Muhammad Qamrez and resident of Village Dera Sahib Zadian, embraced martyrdom.

Moreover, 16-year-old Muhammad Iqrar, son of Muhammad Qamrez and 75-year-old Motia Begum, wife of Muhammad Zaman, both residents of Village Dera Sahib Zadian, susatain injuries. Eight-year-old Khawar Ahmed, son of Saif Ullah, and 40-year-old Murtaza Khan, son of Saif Ullah, both residents of Village Degwar, sustained serious injuries.

"The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons. This year, India has committed 2,225 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 18 shahadats and serious injuries to 176 innocent civilians," read the statement.

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.

"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," the statement said. It was added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, investigate this 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.