Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry on Friday expressed concern over the deliberate targeting of villages and populated areas by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary in a briefing to the heads of missions of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
During the briefing, the foreign secretary also expressed concern over the increase in frequency and intensity of Indian shelling and firing which has led to the deaths of at least 26 civilians, said a spokesperson for the Foreign Office in a statement.
The statement added that the heads of missions were briefed on the use of heavy artillery by Indian forces on November 9 in the sectors of Shahkot and Jura along the LoC.
Referring to the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), Aizaz Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan was fully cooperating and providing unrestricted access to the observers mission, but India had limited the group’s access and was not cooperating.
The heads of missions assured Pakistan that they would convey Pakistan’s concerns to their respective capitals and underscored the need for restraint, observance of ceasefire and dialogue to resolve the issue.
The UNSC representatives were informed that the Pakistani armed forces gave a “befitting reply to Indian aggression”.
A briefing over the ceasefire violations was also given by a representative of the Military Operations Directorate.
Pakistan maintains that India is attempting to divert the world’s attention away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.
Pakistan and India recently locked horns over the Kashmir issue when Indian forces stepped up a crackdown against protesters after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by government forces in July.