A file photo of Line of Control between Pakistan and India. PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with India over the recent ceasefire violation by Indian forces on the working boundary, demanding investigation into a shooting incident that left two Pakistani soldiers dead earlier this week.
Indian High Commissioner Dr T C Raghavan was summoned on Friday by Pakistan Foreign Office. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry handed over a letter to Dr Raghavan which underlined “the regrettable ambush of the soldiers would undermine mechanisms established by the two countries to ensure peace and tranquility along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary.”
Expressing his dismay in the letter to the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz “lodged the government of Pakistan’s strong protest with the government of India, calling for an immediate investigation into the incident and bringing the perpetrators to account,” said the Foreign Office. It pointed out that “the incident was not only in contravention of the rules of engagement, but also amounted to a breach of trust of Pakistani soldiers in these mechanisms.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed shock and anger at the “cold blooded killing of the soldiers”.
The letter also impressed upon the Indian high commission that it was not in Pakistan’s interest to ratchet up tension on the LoC and Working Boundary, since the law enforcement agencies and armed forces were fully engaged in combating terrorism and militancy across the country. “The Indian insinuations that Pakistan supported infiltration attempts were, therefore, far removed from reality,” it pointed out.
The foreign secretary also briefed the Heads of the Missions of P-5 countries and the EU in Islamabad and emphasised the importance of maintaining the ceasefire on the LoC and WB. He stressed the urgency of the international community to play its role in counselling India to refrain from actions that threaten peace and stability in the region.
On Wednesday, the Foreign Office summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner when Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing in the Zafarwal Sector, resulting in the death of four personnel of Pakistani Rangers.
However, former ambassador B A Malik denied any major impact of conveying the concerns. He asserted that Pakistan should seriously review its foreign policy pertaining to India. “India is exploiting our diplomatic weaknesses. There are other ways to deal with this serious situation. We must take up this issue at international forums seriously,” he said.
On December 31, 2014, India’s Border Security Force troops invited the personnel of the Punjab Rangers for a flag meeting, but greeted the unsuspecting soldiers with a volley of unprovoked fire, causing severe injuries to two soldiers. The unabated Indian firing denied timely medical attention to the wounded soldiers, who succumbed to their wounds and embraced martyrdom.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2014.
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