Indian HC summoned

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned Indian High Commissioner on Friday and lodged with him a strong protest over the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary which resulted in loss of lives of four civilians of a family and injuries to 10 others.

According to Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, the acting foreign secretary summoned Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary on May 18, 2018, as the firing was continued till Friday evening in Pukhlian, Cahprar, Harpal, Charwah and Shakargarh sectors.

He said the unprovoked ceasefire violations resulted in martyrdom of four innocent members of the family of Noor Hussain, including his wife, two daughters and a son in village Khanoor, and caused injuries to 10 others.

The details of martyrs are: Kalsoom wife of Noor Hussain, Mehwish and Safia daughters of Noor Hussain and Hamza of Noor Hussain.

The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons, the spokesperson said.

In 2018, he said Indian forces had carried out more than 1,050 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in martyrdom of 28 innocent civilians and injuring 117 others.

“This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India has been continuing since the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1,970 ceasefire violations,” he added.

He said 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,” he warned.

The acting foreign secretary urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

AP ADDS: Eight civilians, including an Indian husband and wife and four members of a Pakistani family, were killed when Indian and Pakistani soldiers fired at border posts and villages along the highly militarized frontier, officials said Friday. An Indian soldier was also killed in the fighting.

The cross-border firing and shelling began overnight and spread to dozens of posts in the occupied Jammu region of the Himalayan territory, said Indian police officer S.D. Singh.

Indian paramilitary officials said their soldiers responded to Pakistani gunfire and shelling, describing it as “unprovoked and indiscriminate.”

The officials said the paramilitary soldier was killed by a sniper Thursday night, leading to cross-border firing and shelling at several forward posts.

The husband and wife were killed when a shell fired from the Pakistani side hit their home, Indian police said. Two other civilians were also killed on the Indian side. At least 12 civilians were also wounded and were being treated in hospitals.

A Pakistani woman, Kulsoom Hussain, and her three children were killed when a mortar fired by Indian troops from across the frontier struck their home, local police official Mohammad Amin said. The woman was making food at the time.

The exchange of fire between Pakistan and India continued for hours near city of Sialkot, forcing villagers to move to safer places.

In a statement, Pakistan army accused Indian troops of initiating an “unprovoked” violation of the 2003 cease-fire accord between the two countries along the frontier near Kashmir and targeting the civilian population, including four villagers who died Friday morning.

According to the statement, the military said Indian fire also wounded 10 people, including three children.

It said Pakistani troops “effectively” responded and targeted the Indian posts from where the fire came.

The military said the artillery exchange was continuing. Foreign ministry said the killed civilians were members of a family.