Army captain killed as India continues ceasefire violation

The Indian Army on Wednesday again escalated tension along the Line of Control (LoC) by opening unprovoked firing in Kargil sector.

The Indian troops resorted to unprovoked shelling late on Tuesday night at Shakma sector in Kargil, during which a Pakistan Army Captain Hafiz Sarfraz Mir embraced martyrdom. Another soldier, Yasin, was seriously injured in the firing.

Military sources said the Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing on Tuesday night at 23:15 hours.

Pakistani troops responded to the Indian firing promptly.

The exchange of fire continued until 2:15am, the sources said added.

India is repeatedly resorting to aggression along the LoC in which several Pakistani citizens, including soldiers, have been killed and injured. To the agony of Pakistan, the Indians rub salt to the wounds by blaming Pakistan for the ceasefire violations. Indian troops have violated ceasefire along the LoC 35 times during the last 15 days.

The martyred Captain Sarfraz belongs to Jorian village of Hafizabad district. His father Chaudhry Mansab Ali is also a retired Subedar Major of the Pakistan Army. Captain Sarfraz’s marriage was scheduled after a few months and he was the youngest among his brothers and sisters.

Sarfraz joined the Pakistan Army in 2007. He was deployed at Siachen three months ago and embraced martyrdom on Tuesday night as a result of Indian shelling.

Humayun Mir, brother of martyred Captain Sarfraz Mir, said he was proud of his brother. He said Sarfraz was engaged to his cousin and his marriage was scheduled after a few months.

Sarfraz’s father said his son was Hafiz-e-Quran and he was proud of him.

Meanwhile, the Indian deputy high commissioner in Islamabad was called in to the Foreign Office on Wednesday and a strong protest was lodged over the unprovoked firing by Indian army soldiers.

Pakistan conveyed its serious concern on the continued violations of the ceasefire across the Line of Control by the Indian Army over the past few weeks and the escalation of tensions, which was counterproductive and detrimental for stability and peace in the region.

The violence comes two weeks after the killing of five Indian soldiers along the Line of Control that separates the two sides.

On the other hand, an Indian Army official said Indian troops came under heavy mortar and light-machine gun fire from the Pakistani side on Tuesday night in the Kargil region, where the two sides fought an undeclared war in 1999.

“Under intense pressure … we fired back,” the Indian official said.

The two sides agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC in November 2003, but skirmishes have been a constant feature across the LoC.