Pakistan summons Indian envoy over ceasefire violation

Pakistan on Thursday summoned Indian envoy over cross-border shelling, which killed at least two civilians along the Working Boundary, according to a statement.

Director General for South Asia and SAARC of Foreign Ministry Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J.P. Singh on Thursday and condemned the "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces in Phuklian Sector on Sept. 13, said the statement.

According to the statement, two civilians were killed while three others were injured.

"Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations. In 2017 to date, Indian forces have carried out more than 700 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the Shahadats (martyrdom) of 32 innocent civilians and injuries to 116, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016," the statement said.

It said the "deliberate targeting of civilians" is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region and the Working Boundary in 2003. Both, however, routinely accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

The director general urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and Working Boundary.

He reiterated Pakistan's call on the Indian side to permit UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

The latest incident happened as the escalation of tension along the LoC has been seen since a militant attack on an army center in the Indian-controlled Kashmir which killed 19 soldiers on Sept. 18 last year.

The Indian military blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group for the attack and also pointed fingers at Pakistan. However, Islamabad rejected the charges and suggested an independent investigation.

source: Xinhua