Pakistan registers protest with Indian diplomat over ceasefire violation

Pakistan on Tuesday called on the Indian Charge d'Affaires to register a strong protest over ceasefire violations by Indian occupying forces along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the martyrdom of one and serious injuries to four innocent civilians.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said the Indian Charge d'Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned to the ministry to register Pakistan’s strong protest over ceasefire violations along the LoC on September 28.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian troops in the Tandar sector of the LoC, 15-year-old Waleed was martyred.

Furthermore, 25-year-old Misba Begum, 45-year-old Zaheer Abbas, 80-year-old Qasim Sain and 26-year-old Suleman - residents of the Sona Valley and Kartan Village were injured.

"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 2,387 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 19 shahadats and serious injuries to 191 innocent civilians," read the communique.

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).

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

India 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.