India continues unprovoked firing along LoC

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MUZAFARABAD: Indian security forces on Monday yet again resorted to unprovoked firing on civil population along the Line of Control (LoC), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

According to details, Indian forces targeted civilian population at Chakothi Pandu sector along the de facto border.

Pakistan Army has given a befitting response of the Indian aggression, however, no news of any injury and causality has been reported so far.

On September 6, Indian forces deliberately targeted innocent civilian participants of peaceful rallies organised to show solidarity with the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir in Khuiratta Sector along LoC.

As a result, four innocent civilians, Iftikhar, 35, Raheel, 20, Farhan, 20, and Adeel, sustained serious injuries.

Subsequently, the Foreign Office (FO) on September 7 summoned Indian Charge d’ Affairs Gaurav Ahluwalia and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the LoC. Dr Mohammad Faisal, the director general (SA & Saarc) at the ministry, urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the working boundary.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the ceasefire violations by India were a threat to regional peace and security and might lead to a strategic miscalculation.

Dr Faisal urged India to instruct its forces to respect the ceasefire and investigate these and other incidents of ceasefire violations. He also urged that the Indian side should permit Unmogip to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile on September 6, Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, visited the LoC.

According to a statement by ISPR, the premier was also accompanied by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chairman of Special Committee on Kashmir Syed Fakhar Imam.

During their visit, the prime minister and army chief interacted with troops and met the families of martyrs.

The country observed Defence and Martyrs Day on September 6. This year, Defence and Martyrs Day was also observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Tensions between Pakistan and India are high since last month, when ISPR said that Indian forces had used cluster munitions to target the civilian population in Azad Jammu and Kashmir from across the LoC; in violation of the Geneva Convention and international law.

Relations worsened when New Delhi repealed Article 370 of the Indian constitution, stripping occupied Kashmir of its special status. Instances of ceasefire violations by Indian forces from across the LoC have also increased and have resulted in casualties of both, civilians and soldiers.

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and Working Boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-calibre mortars, and automatic weapons, which still continues. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations is continuing from 2017, when Indian forces committed 1,970 ceasefire violations. The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.