ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Sunday summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner and lodged a protest over unprovoked ceasefire violations by India forces in Kotli and Nakyal sectors yesterday.
Acting Director-General for South Asia and SAARC Dr Muhammad Faisal lodged the protest with the Indian envoy against ceasefire violations that resulted in the death of two children and injuries to four others, including three children, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement released here.
The spokesperson said that the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) had carried out more than 1,100 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, resulting in deaths of 47 innocent civilians and injuries to 159, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in the year 2016.
“The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws,” Faisal said, adding that the ceasefire violations by India were a threat to regional peace and security and might lead to a strategic miscalculation. He urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement, investigate the recent incident and other ceasefire violations.
“India should instruct the BSF to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit to maintain peace on the LoC,” he said. “India should permit the United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOG) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.”
