Two martyred as India breaches Feb 2021 LoC truce

The Indian Army on Saturday resorted to unprovoked firing on a group of shepherds along the Line of Control (LoC), in a first known ceasefire violation incident since February 2021 when the two south Asian neighbours renewed their truce in the disputed region.

Two civilians embraced martyrdom while one other was critically injured after the Indian Army opened fire on a group of shepherds in Sattwal sector along the Line of Control (LoC), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

“[The] Indian Army in a display of its usual inhumane approach towards innocent Kashmiris, opened indiscriminate fire onto a group of shepherds in Sattwal Sector,” the ISPR said in a statement.

The military’s media wing added that “driven by a newfound geo-political patronage, Indian forces have embarked on a plan to take innocent lives to satiate their false narratives and concocted allegations”.

“While a strong protest is being launched with the Indian side, Pakistan reserves the right to respond back in manner of its choosing to protect Kashmiri lives in the LOC belt,” the statement added.

The ISPR further said that the Indian side is reminded to respect the basic human rights of Kashmiris, particularly, their inalienable right to till their lands.

Read Ceasefire violations indicate India’s frustration: DG ISPR

Later, the Indian Charge d’ Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violation committed by the Indian forces.

“Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, reaffirmed in February 2021,” according to the foreign office.

It was further underscored that targeting of civilians is contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The Indian side was urged to respect the Ceasefire Understanding, investigate the incident, and maintain peace along the Line of Control.

The two countries renewed their truce in February 2021 after back channel talks aimed at reviving the peace talks. Though the process could not move forward, the ceasefire had been holding until this point. There had been certain incidents during the 26-month period truce but the two sides sorted out those using their established mechanism.

The fact Pakistan formally issued a statement and condemned the incident suggested that the two countries may get embroiled in a new phase of hostilities along the LoC, a de facto border that divides Kashmir between Pakistan and India.

The indirect reference to Indo-US deepening defence cooperation by the ISPR added a new dimension to the conflict between Pakistan and India.

Read more: Pakistan dismisses terror allegations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week travelled to Washington on a first state visit where he signed new defence deals that envisaged not only arms sales but transfer of advanced military technology to India.

The joint statement issued after the Modi-Biden meeting also accused Pakistan of cross border terrorism and use of terrorist proxies. The reference to Pakistan triggered a strong reaction from the foreign office, which termed the move as misleading, one-sided and unwarranted. The foreign office also expressed surprise over the US move to endorse the Indian view despite working closely with Pakistan on counter-terrorism efforts.

The foreign office raised serious concerns over the transfer of defence technology to India, warning that such a move would trigger an arms race in the region and disturb the strategic balance.

Pakistan is worried that burgeoning Indo-US ties on defence may undermine its national security interests. Though the US is building defence of India with arms sales and transfer of technology to counter China, Pakistan may bear the brunt given its hostile ties with India.