Islamabad lodges diplomatic protest with India

Indian envoy also told about a threatening phone call received by Sindh Governor House from New Delhi

Our Correspondent October 27, 2015

View of the houses damaged by unprovoked Indian BSF mortar shelling in bordering village Shugmaal-Shakargarh along the Sialkot Working Boundary on Monday. PHOTO: PPI

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan lodged a strong diplomatic protest with India on Monday over the latest ceasefire violations by its border guards along the working boundary that claimed the lives of three Pakistani civilians.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh was summoned to the foreign affairs ministry by the director general (South Asia & Saarc), Dr Muhammad Faisal, to register a strong protest over the killings, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

PPP takes issue of Indian aggression to parliament

It said Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing at Shakargarh and Zafarwal sectors of the working boundary on the nights of October 23, 24 and 25.

“As a result of latest ceasefire violations by the Indian Border Security Force three civilians, including a teenage girl, embraced shahadat and 23 others got injured. The Shaheed included Waris, aged 30 years, Muhammad Husain, aged 15 years, and Saba, aged 15 years.”

While expressing deep concern over frequent unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian troops, the Pakistan government called intentional targeting of civilians by India a “detestable and deplorable act”.

Pakistan lodges protest with India over cross border killing of woman along LoC

Pakistan called upon India to stop forthwith the ongoing ceasefire violations and respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement for restoration of peace and tranquility at the LoC and working boundary. “The government of Pakistan offers its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and prays for the departed souls and for quick recovery of the injured.”

Latest border skirmishes came just days after the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington where he sought the US intervention to persuade India to resume dialogue on all issues, including Kashmir dispute.

The Foreign Office spokesperson, meanwhile, said the Indian deputy high commissioner was called in by the director general (SA & Saarc) on Saturday (October 24) and was informed of a threatening phone call received in the Governor House, Karachi, from India on October 23.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2015.