Pakistan on Thursday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh over the loss of two civilian lives as a result of the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces on September 13, 2017. Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria told his weekly media briefing that India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations despite calls for restraint.
In 2017 to date, he said that Indian forces have carried out more than 700 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, resulting in the martyrdom of 30 innocent civilians and causing injuries to 116, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016. "Pakistan has lodged strong protest with the Indian government against deliberate targeting of innocent civilians including women and children. Our Armed forces are capable of responding to any misadventure carried out by the Indian forces," he said, adding that Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked ceasefire violations by India. Meanwhile, according to a Foreign Office statement, Director General South Asia and SAARC, Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces in Phuklian Sector on September 13, 2017.
It stated that the firing resulted in the martyrdom of two civilians, 35-year-old Muhammad Zahoor, resident of village Dewara, and Reshma Bibi, resident of village Kakran, and injuries to three others. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the statement 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 Working Boundary. He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions, it added.