Pakistan summons Indian envoy to protest killing of civilian at LoC

A 60-year-old Pakistani civilian was killed by unprovoked Indian firing in the Nikial Sector of LoC on August 21

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned the Indian Chargé d’Affaires on Tuesday to register its strong protest over the killing of a Pakistani civilian as a result of unprovoked firing by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC). 

According to a press release form the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 60-year-old Mr. Ghias, a resident of Oli village in Kotli district, was killed as a result of Indian firing in the Nikial Sector of the LoC in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on August 21.

Emphasising the need for maintaining peace and tranquillity at the LoC, the Foreign Office underscored that such acts are in clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding between the two neighbouring countries, reaffirmed in February 2021.

Also read: Civilian martyred in India LoC fire

It was stressed that Indian forces should exercise utmost caution as targeting innocent civilians is contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The Indian side was urged to investigate the incident and respect the Ceasefire Understanding. 

“Pakistan strongly condemns this incident and reiterates its commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region,” the Foreign Ministry added in the press statement.

The Line of Control (LoC) is a de facto border that divides the region into Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on the Pakistani side, and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). 

The ceasefire understanding aimed to reduce hostilities along the LoC and is now a significant part of the bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan.

This was the second known ceasefire violation incident since February 2021 when the two neighbours renewed their truce in the disputed region.

In June, Indian Army resorted to unprovoked firing on a group of shepherds along the LoC. Two civilians embraced martyrdom while one other was critically injured in Sattwal sector along the LoC, the ISPR had said.

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

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 truce but the two sides sorted out those using their established mechanism.