Pakistan summons Indian diplomat to protest against targeting of UN vehicle

ISLAMABAD:

The Indian Charge d’Affaires was summoned by the country's foreign ministry on Saturday to lodge a protest against the "deliberate targeting" of military observers assigned to the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). 

The UN military observers were en route to Polas village in the Chirikot sector of the Line of Control (LOC) to interact with villagers affected by unabated ceasefire violations (CFV) by India when their vehicle came under fire on Friday from the Indian side of the disputed border.

The vehicle was damaged in the incident, but the two UN military observers travelling in it remained unharmed. They were safely rescued and evacuated by the Pakistan Army to Rawalakot.

"The deliberate targeting of a UN vehicle, engaged in discharging the mandate of the UN Security Council, constitutes a grave violation of India’s obligations, under the Council’s resolutions and the UN Charter, which includes the obligation to ensure the safety and security of the UNMOGIP Observers." said the statement by the ministry. 

"It appears to be a new coercive and reckless Indian ploy to hinder the observers’ work."

It was communicated to the Indian side that the act was a flagrant violation of established international norms and represented a complete disregard for principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

It was further conveyed that the reprehensible act also represented a new low in the conduct of Indian occupation forces which target not only innocent civilians residing along the LoC but United Nations military observers as well.

Islamabad urged New Delhi to "desist from such blatant violations of international law; respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, and let the UNMOGIP perform its role mandated by the UNSC".

The UNMOGIP replaced the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP), originally established in January 1948 to investigate and mediate in the dispute between the two countries.

New Delhi has committed 2,992 ceasefire violations so far this year, resulting in the death of 27 people and injuries to 249 people.