Indian diplomat summoned over ceasefire violations along LoC

Pakistan on Friday summoned Indian Chargé d’Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register strong protest over ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the martyrdom of four innocent civilians and serious injuries to 12 others, according to a statement of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFa).

The targeted areas in the most recent ceasefire violations were Neelum Valley (Nekrun, Kel, Sharda, Dudhnial, Shahkot, Jura, Nauseri sectors), Leepa Valley (Danna, Mandal and Kayani sectors), Jhelum Valley (Chham and Pandu sectors), and Bagh Valley (Pirkanthi, Sankh, Haji Pir, Bedori and Kailer sectors), read the FO statement.

"In this deliberate provocation, Indian occupation forces, in utter disregard for all international obligations and human rights and the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding targeted civilian inhabited areas," the statement added.

The foreign office said that 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 alone, India has thus far committed 2,737 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 25 martyrdoms and serious injuries to 218 innocent civilians.

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 Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

The 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 foreign office also said that 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).