Pakistan and India summoned each other's top diplomats on Wednesday following a major escalation in tension, as New Delhi claimed it has handed over a "dossier" to Islamabad with specific details of Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) alleged complicity in the Pulwama suicide attack. According to a Foreign Office statement, Director General South Asia and SAARC Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control on February 26, 2019.
It stated that the violations were carried out in Nikial and Khuiratta Sectors which resulted in martyrdom of four innocent civilians namely Mottia Bibi, Zarina, Gulfaraz and Shehnaz, while injuring six others. It stated that the Indian forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India has been continuing since the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1,970 ceasefire violations, it added.
"The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," it added.
The director general urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. He also urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile, Indian external affairs minister said in a statement that acting high commissioner of Pakistan was summoned by the MEA to lodge a protest at the alleged "unprovoked act of aggression by Pakistan against India earlier today, including by violation of Indian air space by Pakistan Air Force and targeting of Indian military posts."
"This is in contrast to the India's non-military anti-terror preemptive strike at a JeM terrorist camp in Balakot on February 26, 2019. It is unfortunate that instead of fulfilling its international obligation and bilateral commitment to take credible action against terrorist entities and individuals operating from its soil Pakistan has acted with aggression against India," it maintained.
It further stated: "It was clearly conveyed that India reserves the right to take firm and decisive action to protect its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity against any act of aggression or cross-border terrorism."
"India also strongly objected to Pakistan's vulgar display of an injured person of the Indian Air Force in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention. It was made clear that Pakistan would be well advised to ensure that no harm comes to the Indian defence person in its custody. India also expects his immediate and safe return," it added.
The Indian MEA further stated: "Regret was expressed at continuing denial by Pakistan's political and military leadership at the presence of terrorist infrastructure in territories under its control. A dossier was handed over to Pakistan side with specific details of JeM complicity in Pulwama terror attack and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan. It was conveyed that India expects Pakistan to take immediate and verifiable action against terrorism emanating from territories under its control."
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