Pakistan calls for UN probe into Indian attack on UNMOGIP

Says RSS-BJP government planning to stage ‘false flag’ attack to divert attention from its domestic difficulties

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has taken up with the United Nations the reprehensible attack by India on the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) observers and their vehicle along the Line of Control (LoC), urging the world body to initiate a transparent investigation into the incident.

In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and the president of the Security Council, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN stated that deliberate targeting of the UN observers and their vehicle – which was clearly marked with UN logo and flying a blue flag of the UN – appears to be a new coercive and reckless ploy by India to hinder UNMOGIP’s work, and facilitate another Indian military misadventure against Pakistan, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Sunday.

Indian army on Friday targeted the UNMOGIP vehicle along the LoC that prompted Pakistan to also summon the Indian envoy to register a strong protest.

The letter also informed the secretary general and the UNSC that Pakistan had credible information that the RSS-BJP government was planning to stage a “false flag” attack to divert attention from its domestic difficulties, and create justification for another misadventure against Pakistan. If that were to happen, Pakistan will exercise its right to self-defence, the letter warned.

The letter from Pakistan’s permanent representative requested the UN to forcefully condemn the attack on the UNMOGIP Observers and called on India to observe the 2003 ceasefire understanding.

The UN must respond positively and urgently to repeated calls by Pakistan to strengthen UNMOGIP and improve its ability to observe and report on ceasefire violations, the letter contended.

Pakistan also reminded the UN that the illegal and inhuman military siege and communications lockdown in the occupied territory had now lasted for over 500 days.

Highlighting the atrocities and crimes committed by Indian occupying forces against the innocent Kashmiris since August 2019, the UN had been forewarned that India’s ultimate plan was to change the demographic structure of IIOJK from a Muslim majority area into a Hindu majority territory.

While drawing attention to the deteriorating situation along the LoC, Pakistan’s communication recalls that India had committed over 3,000 unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary this year alone, primarily targeting the civilian populated areas resulting in 276 casualties, including 92 women and 68 children, out of them 27 had embraced martyrdom.

On December 18, the Indian Army resorted to unprovoked fire in Chirikot Sector of [the] LoC. [The] Indian troops deliberately targeted a United Nations vehicle with two military observers on board,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The UN military observers were en route to Polas village in Chirikot sector to interact with villagers affected by unabated ceasefire violations (CFV) by India, the ISPR added.

A day later, the UN confirmed that a vehicle belonging to the UNMOGIP was hit by an "unidentified object" near Rawalakot on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC).

Speaking at the regular briefing in New York, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the incident occurred when military observers were conducting routine monitoring activities.