India’s warmongering claims two more lives along Working Boundary

• Pakistan summons Indian envoy over fresh ceasefire violations 
• FO says India’s confrontational attitude may lead to a ‘strategic miscalculation’
• Warns of ‘befitting response’ to any misadventure

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday recorded a protest with the Indian deputy high commissioner after fresh cross-border firing claimed lives of two women and wounded five others along the Working Boundary in Sialkot’s Chaprar sector between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with the Foreign Office stating India’s confrontational attitude may lead to a “strategic miscalculation”.

According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Indian forces continued their “unprovoked” ceasefire violations and “targeted civilian population along Working Boundary in Kundan Pur village, Chaprar, Sialkot sector overnight”. As a result of the firing, two women were killed and five civilians, including three women, were injured.

“The Pakistan Rangers Punjab effectively responded to neutralise Indian Border Security Forces posts,” the ISPR statement said.

The Foreign Office summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh and served a demarche while lodging a protest against the casualties resulting from the ceasefire violation by Indian forces.

“Indian confrontational attitude is a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation. Pakistan is fully capable of giving a befitting response to any misadventure,” FO spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said at the weekly press briefing.

According to the Foreign Office, Indian forces have committed more than 70 ceasefire violations along the LoC and Working Boundary in 2018, in which at least three civilians and four soldiers have lost their lives, and 10 people have been injured.

“This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1,900 ceasefire violations. I have urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions,” the spokesman said.

“India has deliberately escalated tensions at the LoC and the Working Boundary, in order to try to divert the attention of the international community from the grave situation in the Indian, occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where the Indian occupation forces have unleashed a reign of terror committing brutalities against the innocent and defenseless people,” added the FO spokesperson.

Reacting to the recent statement by the Indian army chief, the spokesperson said it was an irresponsible and provocative statement which was regrettable.

The spokesperson said the statement by India’s top soldier reflects the jingoistic mindset of India, which “can further exacerbate the already vitiated environment”.

Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who, according to Indian media outlets, had said the force was ready to call Pakistan’s ‘nuclear bluff’ and cross the border to carry out any operation if asked by the government.

“Indian falsified claims and belligerent statements are motivated by an exaggerated view of its own capacities and hegemonic designs. India’s mistaken belief and irresponsible rhetoric are fraught with unforeseen dangers in an already volatile strategic environment,” said the FO spokesperson.

The FO said that Pakistan had no desire to escalate the situation and has acted with maximum restraint.

Ceasefire violations are a frequent feature along the LoC and Working Boundary despite the leadership of Pakistan Rangers and India’s Border Security Forces agreeing in November 2017 that the “spirit” of the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement must be revived to protect innocent lives.

Until June last year, unprovoked firing by Indian security forces from across the Line of Control and at the Sialkot Working Boundary had left 832 people dead, 3,000 injured and 3,300 houses damaged, according to Director General of the Disaster Management Authority Zaheeruddin Qureshi.