Pakistan has officially contacted the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) over the continued ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC), as the Foreign Office called in Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal to lodge a formal protest over repeated, unacceptable and unprovoked attacks by India.
Addressing an emergency news conference at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said Islamabad had taken onboard the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan over the continued ceasefire violations by India on the LoC.
“Pakistan has conveyed its concern to the Western diplomats and the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan over repeated violation of Line of Control by Indian army‚ urging them to play their role in defusing the tension,” he said. Earlier, Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal was summoned at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a strong protest was lodged with him, Jilani said.
He said the Indian government had been conveyed a message through the high commissioner to conduct a thorough investigation into the repeated violations of the ceasefire along the Line of Control by Indian troops and to adopt necessary steps to ensure they did not recur.
The secretary said the ministry also gave a detailed briefing to ambassadors of 18 countries at the Foreign Office, giving them detailed account of Indian aggression on the LoC. “Pakistan reiterates its commitment to a peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues through a sustained and result-oriented dialogue with India,” the foreign secretary added.
Jilani said he also reminded the government of India of its commitment to fully implement the ceasefire along the LoC and strongly urged it to abide and respect the ceasefire, which he said was an important confidence-building measure that had worked well since 2003.
“These attacks not only vitiate the atmosphere but also create unnecessary and avoidable distractions in our efforts towards the peace process,” he said to a query. To another question, Jilani said if India was carrying this aggression to divert the world’s attention away from the recent gang rape in New Delhi, it was indeed unfortunate. To a question on reservations over awarding India the MFN status, the foreign secretary said the media had presented his statement out of context, adding that the agriculture sector was having some issues, following which the ministries concerned were directed to take them onboard over the MFN title to India.
Jilani reiterated Pakistan’s offer to hold an independent inquiry into the recent incidents of ceasefire violations through the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has decided to suspend the “Paigham-e-Aman” bus service between Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Indian-held Kashmir.
“Pakistan has suspended the cross-LoC bus service between Chakan-Da-Bagh (J and K) and Rawalakote (AJK) for the time being,” Trade Facilitation Officer (TFO), Poonch, Abdul Hamid Sheikh said.
