Soldier martyred in Indian ceasefire violation along LoC

In yet another incident of unprovoked aggression, Indian border security forces resorted to targeting the Pakistani side of Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the martyrdom of a Pakistan Army soldier, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

34-year-old Naik Dil Faraz, a resident of Village Panjkot in Muzaffarabad, embraced martyrdom while fighting valiantly in the line of duty, said an ISPR statement.

ISPR said that the Indian Army troops initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation along LOC in Kotkotera Sector.

"Pakistan army responded befittingly to Indian provocation, causing substantial damage to Indian post in men and material," military's media wing said.

Indian 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.

ISPR Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar, during a visit of ambassadors, diplomats, defence attaches and representatives of various countries and international organisations in Jura Sector, said that Indian Army was using cluster bombs on children and innocent civilians and has carried out over 2,333 violations along the LoC this year, whereas the Pakistan Army only targeted the Indian Army’s checkposts.

The ISPR chief informed the diplomats that there had been an increase in ceasefire violations since 2014. “India is violating human rights in occupied Kashmir,” he said. “It is committing provocations and deliberately targeting civilian population with heavy weapons to divert attention from its oppression of minorities."

Maj Gen Iftikhar further stated that on July 30 and 31, the Indian forces used cluster ammunition, targeting the civilian population of Neelam Valley. Fragments of the used ammunition were also shown to the diplomats. “Use of cluster ammunition is prohibited under international law,” he said.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan, in a statement, strongly condemned Indian firing.

He said India is escalating tension at the Line of Control with the aim to divert the world attention from the deteriorating human rights situation in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

While expressing deep sense of sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Naik Dil Faraz, he expressed sympathy with the bereaved families.

Masood Khan paid rich tributes to Pakistan Army officers and soldiers for sacrificing their lives for the defence of the motherland and protecting life and property of the people of Azad Kashmir.