ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office once again summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner on Sunday to protest the repeated ceasefire violations by India along the border and killing of civilians in cross-border firing.
Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said the latest ceasefire violation occurred in Nikial Sector across the Line of Control in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Jan 20-21.
Pakistan condemns the unprovoked firing in Nikial Sector, resulting in shahadat of 2 innocent civilians. Indian DHC summoned to mofa pic.twitter.com/CtVcc8sju0
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) January 21, 2018
Innocent villagers Dil Muhammad, 33, and Nafeesa, 25, were martyred as a result of the firing, the FO stated.
Moreover, Sahiba, Naseema and six-month-old Noor were injured in the incident and have been shifted to Kotli DHQ Hospital for treatment.
“The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation, the FO statement had said.
On January 16, Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, calling India’s violation of the ceasefire agreement ‘quite alarming’, had said Pakistan cannot ignore the situation at the Line of Control (LoC). He had explained that India has violated the ceasefire agreement more than 100 times in 2017.
PUNJAB RANGERS CHIEF VISITS SIALKOT WB: Punjab Rangers Director General Major General Azhar Naveed Hayat Khan visited Charwah and Harpal sectors along the Sialkot Working Boundry in the day.
Talking to the heirs of those martyred by the Indian shelling, he said the Rangers would respond to the India in the same coin.
The Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) were targeting the civilian population in Sialkot border villages by its unprovoked intensified mortar shelling, he added.
He expressed complete solidarity with the grieved families and also inquired after the health of those injured by the Indian shelling. He said the Punjab Rangers had full capability to defend every inch of the motherland, besides responding to the enemy in a befitting manner.
The DG Rangers also visited forward areas along the Sialkot Working Boundary. He was given a briefing on operational, security and training aspects. He interacted with soldiers performing duties along the Sialkot Working Boundary.
The LoC has been witnessing frequent fire exchanges, in a serious breach of a ceasefire agreement signed by both armies in November 2003.
Tensions mounted after an attack on an Indian army installation in Uri in September 2016 by suspected militants, which claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers.
India blamed Pakistan for the attack; Pakistan, however, strongly rejected the claim.
Ever since, several casualties, mostly of civilians, have occurred in cross-border shelling.
