FO summons Indian diplomat over ceasefire violations

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office today (Saturday) has summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the latest ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in serious injuries to two innocent women.

According to a press release, the FO spokesperson said that due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian forces in Rakhchikri and Baroh Sectors of the LoC, 35-year-old Shakeela Bibi and 40-year-old Nazia Bibi sustained serious injuries.

The Indian 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.

The FO spokesperson said, “This year, India has committed 1697 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 14 martyrdoms and serious injuries to 133 innocent civilians.”

Condemning the targeting of innocent civilians by Indian forces, the FO said the Indian envoy was conveyed 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,” FO spokesperson added. 

The spokesperson also pointed out that by raising tensions along the LoC, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights the situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

Earlier on Friday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that Indian troops had initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation in Rakhchikri and Baroh sectors along the LoC targeting the civilian population.