RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned top Indian diplomat on Monday and lodged a strong protest over the ceasefires violations along Line of Control (LoC), which resulted in loss of life of an innocent civilian.

“Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned by Director General South Asia and SAARC Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Monday, to register Pakistan’s strong protest at the ceasefire violation by Indian occupation forces along the LoC in Kotkotera and Karela Sectors on 11 January 2020, resulting in the martyrdom of an innocent civilian,” Foreign Office said.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian forces, it stated, 24-year-old Mohammad Ishtiaque from Chowki village, tehsil and district Khuiratta, had embraced martyrdom.

Condemning the targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, the DG South Asia and SAARC underscored that such senseless Indian acts, in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and complete disregard for international human rights and international norms, are a threat to regional peace and security.

He added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB), India cannot divert attention from the worsening human rights violations taking place in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

It further stated that the director general also called upon Indian side to respect the ceasefire understanding, investigate this and other incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace on the LoC and the WB.

He also urged that India should permit the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.