ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned senior Indian diplomat on Wednesday to register a strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on July 28, 2020, resulting in serious injuries to three innocent civilians, the Foreign Office said.
It stated that due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Rakhchikri Sector of the LoC, Farida Bibi, wife of Muhammad Nazeer; Alam Bibi, wife of Akram Hussain; and Safeer, son of Noor Din, residents of village Akhori, sustained serious injuries.
"The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have been continuously targeting civilian-populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons," it stated, adding that this year, India has committed 1,823 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 14 Shahadats and serious injuries to 138 innocent civilians.
Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct.
"These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security," the Indian diplomat was told.
It was added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K). It further stated that the Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB. The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per UNSC resolutions, it further stated.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020