Ceasefire violations: Sartaj Aziz calls on Indian govt to ‘give peace a chance’
“For seven days now, the Indian security forces have been firing and shelling across the Line of Control and Working Boundary. Yesterday, was Eid day but the Indian forces, in complete disregard of the festive event, carried on the fire and put four innocent lives to death,” he said in the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It is sad that the Indian government has not been able to restrain its forces despite strong diplomatic protest by Pakistan. We call upon Indian government to immediately cease fire and shelling and help us preserve tranquility.”
The statement comes the same day it was reported that a woman was killed and two other people were injured as Indian troops resorted to ‘unprovoked firing’ in Charwa Sector near the Sialkot working boundary.
Pakistan strongly protested against the firing and shelling by the Indian side for the past two days to the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) , according to ISPR.
In his statement, Azis urged that the UNMOGIP “be enabled to play its due role in monitoring ceasefire to secure peace and tranquility on the Line of Control and Working Boundary.”
The advisor said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government has been exercising utmost restraint and responsibility.
“We also extended a hand of friendship to India. However, with abrupt cancellation of Foreign Secretary level talks, the Indian side has shunned all our peace overtures. We hope that the Indian side would give peace a chance,” he said, adding, “We have often called for making full use of the channels available like hotline between DGs MO and Sector Commanders’ meetings. Unfortunately, all our efforts to secure peace and tranquility on the Line of Control and the Work Boundary have elicited no cooperation from the Indian side.”
He went on to add that cease fire at the LoC and the Working Boundary must be preserved in the larger interest of the region and the people of the two countries.
Envoy calls on Indian govt to observe ceasefire
Expressing deep concern over the recent cross border violations, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Masood Khan called upon the Indian government to “immediately observe ceasefire and help preserve tranquility,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Khan on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly Plenary said that the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) should play its role in monitoring the ceasefire.
“Pakistan is pursuing a policy of constructive engagement in the neighbourhood to resolve differences,” he said.
COMMENTS (46)
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Simply wasting time in arguing
Pakistan Military's HUGE business empire will come crashing down if Pakistan makes peace with India. That should give you some idea about who wants to keep the border situation simmering.
Indians are given a befitting response by Pakistan Army. Indians start shelling onto civilian population which Pakistan Army refrain from. We have seen their involvement inside Pakistan especially in Balochistan. We are also aware why India want an active role in Afghanistan. Their power hunger game in region is no more a secret and will remain a dream for them.
@Parvez: Surprising insensitivity coming from you. 5 Indian civilians have died - not across LoC but across international border. 15000 people have been moved away for safety with standing crops which will go waste. I am sure there have been losses on Pakstani side too in retaliatory firing.
While both countries accuse each other of starting the firing, we all know the history here don't we?
Needless loss of both Indian and Pakistani civilians due to Pakistan army unable and unwilling to reconcile to reality. IT is sad - not funny.
Everyone wants peace. But it is difficult to talk on peace without maintaining ceasefire and obeying the order of respected authorities of the country which is doubtful in case of pakistan. There are so many issues to carry forward for the strengthening economy.Kashmir is a heart of india and there is no doubt that pakistani people also loves kashmir because both are one country people in past. Giving own land to third party (china).. is this correct ?
There is a deluge of commentators from India. Where are commentators from Pakistan?
Indian Army is doing there job well.
Indian Army are doing there job well.
Mr. Aziz We dont cant beg peace if some one is victim of war madness. let them try and see. i used to have neutral views about india but after seeing many things and observe their comments on different platform no use to say for peace any more .
Oh, they keep firing at our people and our government is like, 'Give peace a chance'.
The real meaning?, 'Please oh please give peace a chance'. I absolutely despise how this government is apologetic towards this whole charade. After all, how will our PM export sugar through his mills if he adopts a stern tone?.
Sure - Give peace a chance. Dismantle the terror groups, that are virtually an extended arm of Pakistan army.
India isn't looking for change in status quo. Pakistan does. Give up the dreams of changing status quo violently - and peace will return.
No one in India will believe Sartaj Aziz a shameless liar, without any kind of guilty feeling or shame he used to tell lies openly.
Pakistan is following the path of China.
China used to create trouble and ask the other side maintain peace, the same thing Pakistan is doing now. Pakistan creates trouble in Indian border and cries as a victim. Duplicity is the name of Pakistan
These "leaders" have to ask themselves why India would want to bring the border issue out in the limelight by "unprovoked" firing? It is in Pakistan's interest to keep the issue burning, not India's. So, a little less play-acting would be nice. Besides, given Pakistan's credibility, nobody would buy the story anyway.
The trouble Pakistani Economy is in today all started with the the "Institutionalization of the Foreign accounts of Pakistani Citizens by the Previous Nawaz Shariff government at the behest of this Sartaj Aziz ...so anything he says or does is suspect ...
Well now the boot is on the other foot and we all know Pakistan started this and we will finish it. Denial by a nation like Pakistan will not be accepted by the world community let alone Indians. We all remember the attacks on Mumbai, New Delhi, etc. Carry on playing victim if you like but it will not help we are ready to annihilate you and we will. After all you are occupying Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain lands.
I guess your government will bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai blasts to justice swiftly then!
Such big lies in the media. Its Pakistan forces who has been violating the cease fire.
Armed forces must give a befitting response to the indians unless they beg for mercy.
.......possibly another sari or crate of mangoes might help.
Wow, what a mellowed down response by the foreign office. Aggression should be answered with a firm retaliatory rejoinder. How spineless of our government.
look, it's already decided, one by one all Muslim countries will be attacked/dismembered etc while the dreaded moulvis spew their mind numbing ignorance and stupidity across the world.
As you can see, Turkey has been pushed into the ISIS war. Moreover, Modi was elected largely due to the fact that he is most certainly a war mongering savage. This pathetic man will without doubt bring about a major conflict in this region. One must understand that India has this self generated superiority complex of sorts & pent up wannabe power phobia as well as this self righteousness attitude and arrogance which will lead us all to a Nuclear conflict sooner or later. Probably sooner since Modi is now in power and one would be a fool to think otherwise.
He must have read it on a bumper sticker. Mr. Sartaj, if you REALLY want to give peace a chance then drive down to Pindi and demand to know what's really going on. May or may not work but you will at least get a good cup of chai for your effort.
This is yet another case of he says - she says. Pakistan has reasons to do cross border firing cause it has historically always resorted to giving cover firing for infiltrators. This is not made up, Pakistan has always categorically accepted that they will provide all kind of support including arm insurgency in Kashmir. So there is more reason for Pakistanis to start firing. India has no reason whatsoever to fire across Pakistan, it has no agenda. Its just yet another desperate attempt by Pakistan to internationalize the issue now that it has realized that nobody cares for it's cause. Recent response to UN speech by Nawaz seals the deal. Live with it Pakistan and focus on fixing whats left of you.
Mr. Sorteeg Azaiz, please go back to sleep immediately. Your Master, Nawaz, is in charge of the foreign ministry.
The frustrated and brainless Pak top brass resorted to this firing after drawing a blank at UN on Kashmir followed by a major setback of US and India signing treaty to target terror organisations in Pakistan. This unprovoked firing is primarily to show defiance, draw world's attention on Kashmir and to push in their assets before onset of the winter. These duds do not have any grey matter to understand that these old and beaten tactics shall not work anymore as US, NATO including UN are on the India's side due to Pak dismal past record. India has taken these grave violations seriously as Defence minister is discussing further coarse of action with his two Chiefs. Pakistan military who is making no headway in NW wants to stall ongoing operations by shifting forces to its Eastern border orchestrating threat from India. Pakistan today stands completely isolated due to your military misplaced policies at home, neighbours, US and only promoting their self interest whereas country's welfare comes last to them.
I have no word to explain the duplicity of Pakistan. Very very egregious act on part of Pakistan. India should cut of all relation with this nation of so called PURE. and move on. Any provocation on border ,Retaliate and pay back in same token. NO COMMUNICATION HENCE FORWAD.
The problem with this approach of starting LoC skirmishes and pretending India started it is no one believes us. Should we try anything new?
Pakistan even has to take USA approval before it can change the bases of its F16 fighters. What freedom. What a defence
Give young a chance,Senile old man if other one do not want t solve Kashmir Peacefully then what Choice Pakistan doe shave other then to go forward and saves Pakistani lives.Long live Pakistan armed forces.
India has given many chances for peace and what she has received are attacks on her Parliament , Kargil and Mumbai. When Mr. Aziz calls for giving peace a chance is it implied that more such attacks from Pakistan are in store? Also, the shelling starts from the Pakistani side to provide cover to the insurgents who want to sneak into India, not the other way around.
india is Imran khans umpire and the finger has been raised. Just because I like the sound and rhyme, I shall say Go Nawaz Go.
Instead of calling India, Mr Aziz should call his army chief who does not want India and Pakistan to have normal relations. Pakistani army is pushing things too far and might spin out of control.
Past history shows that it is Pakistan who has always been spoiling for fight with India. Pakistan should keep in mind that the world is fed up of its antics, and in the event the matter escalates into war, the world will only be too happy to see India put an end to this sorry excuse of a country.
There was a time when Pakistan's Army had absolute control, the COAS could call all shots and his orders obeyed without questions. Now the retired generals are in control of the army itself. Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association that has over 3 million retired armed forces personnel is headed by Hamid Gul and core of his followers like Hafiz Saeed and various others who support talibans and other terror groups. Every now and then, we hear of new terror groups and they all have the same agenda. Their prime agenda is to take control of Pakistan itself and they use anti-India feelings and conduct attacks on India just to rally support for themselves. There is much division and dissent within the army itself and the political parties are also having their own agenda which is tilting towards the terrorists. Pakistan's army is now under attack from all sides. It is under attack from the talibans and terrorists and also from within its own ranks that have grown bolder and bolder to the extent that they almost took control of Pakistan Navy Frigate just recently. Political parties have their own agenda. Retired Gen. Pasha has his own agenda. The most serious threat for the army is from the its Ex-Serviceman Association. India knows that it can stop the terrorist infiltration and cross border shelling cannot cause much damage to its military or in Kashmir. India's reactions of canceling the Foreign Secretary level talks earlier and now by putting on hold the flag meeting with the Pakistan Army are appropriate. It will deny the terror sponsoring groups, both within and outside the army establishment, any space and put pressure on Pakistan's Army itself.
It seems that SA is almost begging for peace!
"Give peace a chance!" Vow, coming from a Pakistani politician who has indulged in anti-India hate-mongering most of his political life, this is really news. Sartaj Aziz, who was recently in New York, must have surely sensed the international attitude to Pakistan which is shunned and despised, almost like the despicable ISIS, because of its violent extremism and what is whispered as "Pakistan's infamous two Ds" -- the two Ds standing for denial and deception. Sir, with great respect, how do you expect your neighbor to stretch its hand of friendship to your gesture of "stretching the hand of friendship", when you engage in war-mongering and militant extremism? You have neither taken action against the killers of the 2008 Mumbai carnage, nor have you done anything to dismantle the terrorist network on your soil that is aimed against India. The recent talks between foreign secretaries were called off because your undesirable and unwelcome high commissioner in Delhi met with violent fringe elements of Kashmiri separatists, funded and armed by Pakistan. Most Indians have now become so cynical and indifferent to Pakistan that they do not believe the news reported by Pakistani media (I hope this esteemed paper, in the interest of objectivity and freedom of speech which it professes to espouse, will not change, cut or even stop this comment) about "attacks" by Indian border patrol forces. The Indian media has a different story to tell; Indian papers report of daily firing and shelling of Indian villages on the border by Pakistani armed forces, obviously, with the intention of giving over to militants whom Pakistan is trying to push across the border. Peace is a two-way traffic; it's a tango in which both partners participate. You had many opportunities to strike a long-lasting friendship and brotherly relationship with India, but you preferred to abuse Indian goodwill. Like they say, you can make a mistake once because you are just human, but if you make a mistake twice, you are a fool. Indians have shown a soft corner for what were once considered to be our "brothers across the borders", but things have changed. We have realized that a dog's tail can never straighten. I am sorry if I hurt the feelings of any Pakistani readers but this is a serious matter and we cannot talk about peace while your actions convey a different game plan.
Did we not hear such lies and damned lies during Kargil as well? The pakistani gameplan is becoming clearer. They have clearly been shaken at the manner in which Kashmir has dropped off the international radar as well as how isolated they have become. Since India has wrapped up UNMOGIP, a crude attempt is being made to bring it into some sort of relevance, to keep the pot boiling. Hence the whole firing exercise was first started by the Paksitan army and now a lot of noise will be created as to how it can become a nuclear flash point etc. Looks like some people just don't grow up. I would be very surprised if this makes it past the censor.
Mr Pirzada @timesnow ,, you are blaming India , for talks on kashmir he dont want to talk about ceasefire violation
Mr Aziz why don't you call Indian shelling untimely,we are confused by your approach being our foreign affair adviser but so confused always to protect or project our stance.
Indians want peace too. But if you fire in civilian areas in Jammu, you know full well that India cannot be quiet about it. Instead of talking o India, talk o the people wo initiate ceasefire violations. If they stop ceasefire iolations, there will be no reason for India o do so.
Giving peace is a great idea Mr Aziz. Fully agree with you. The problem here is, your military is not ready to listen to the 'better' ideas of your government. It is a mini Kargil all over again. Rein in your mad generals. or be ready for a more severe retaliation.
I really feel sorry for you...