Senior Indian diplomat summoned over fresh ceasefire violation
Army soldier stands guard at a hilltop post during a trip organised by the army, near the Line of Control (LoC), in Charikot Sector, Azad Kashmir July 22, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS
A senior Indian diplomat was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday to lodge a strong protest over New Delhi's ceasefire violation at the Line of Control (LoC).
The Indian ceasefire violation on November 11 caused serious injuries to a civilian, said a statement released by the ministry.
"Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Rakhchikri Sector of the LoC, 26-year-old Sagheer Ahmed s/o Rasheed Ahmed, resident of Village Kirni, sustained serious injuries."
Condemning the incident of targeting civilians by Indian 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 statement added that Indian forces have been continuously targeting civilian areas with artillery, large-calibre mortars and automatic weapons. It added that "this year, India has committed 2660 ceasefire violations to date" causing at least 20 martyrdoms and 203 injuries to civilians.
"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 ministry called upon New Delhi to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and urged the Indian side 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".