Pakistan summons Indian diplomat to protest ceasefire violations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register Islamabad’s strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on 5th July 2020, resulting in serious injuries to five innocent civilians, including three children.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Nikial Sector of the LoC, on 5th July 2020, 10 year old Junaid s/o Dr. Muhammad Aziz, 7 year old Aryan s/o Muhammad Ishfaq, 70 year old Jahan Begum w/o Muhammad Wazeer, 50 year old Zubaida Bibi w/o Saddique Muhammad and 15 year old Kamran Shafique s/o Muhammad Shafique sustained serious injuries (all injured are residents of Truthi and Ghim Bala village).

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.

This year, India has committed 1595 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 14 shahadats and serious injuries to 121 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.”

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).

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 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.