Pakistan summons Indian diplomat over ceasefire violations along LoC
A soldier stands on guard along the Line of Control. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Chargé d’Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFa) to register strong protest over ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in serious injuries to 11 innocent civilians including children, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.
The targeted area in the recent ceasefire violations was the Khuiratta Sector of the LoC. The Indian forces injured 11 residents of the Jijot Bahadar village. They were identified as 55-year-old Muhammad Haneef, five-year-old Shangur, five-year-old Summan, 20-year-old Aruj, 35-year-old Zabina, 65-year-old Sarwar Jan, 35-year-old Sajida Kausar, 10-year-old Eraj, 50-year-old Khursheed Begum, seven-year-old Hurrain Irfan and nine-year-old Mubeen.
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 more than 2820 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 26 shahadats and serious injuries to 245 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 read.
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 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 stated 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) Resolutions.