—FO reprimands Indian ambassador over LoC firing
RAWALPINDI: Acting Foreign Secretary Aitzaz Ahmed on Friday summoned Indian Ambassador to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale to the Foreign Office and reprimanded him on the ceasefire violations by the Indian forces.
Meanwhile, a hotline contact was also established between the Pakistani and Indian Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) on Friday over the recent killings of six Pakistani civilians by Indian firing across the Line of Control (LoC).
In a telephonic conversation with the Indian DGMO, the Pakistan Army DGMO conveyed an unflinching resolve to ensure the security of civilian population, adding Pakistan shall continue to take all necessary measures to deter such aggression in the future, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a press statement.
During the contact, Pakistan Army raised the issue of deliberate targeting of Pakistani civilians residing in the vicinity of the working boundary; however, India rejected Pakistan’s claims, saying that its army targeted armed intruders, not civilians.
In 2017 alone, Indian troops have carried out more than 870 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, resulting in the death of 38 civilians and injuries to 142, said the FO statement.
The LoC in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a spurt in ceasefire violations by the both sides which has resulted in significant loss of lives.
