Pakistan summons India’s envoy to protest LoC firing
*New Delhi asked to probe firing incident, share findings with Pakistan, instruct its troops to respect ceasefire agreement and maintain peace along LoC

ISLAMABAD: Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned by Foreign Office on Monday to protest India’s unprovoked violation of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nakial Sector.

A protest was lodged against unprovoked ceasefire violations on the weekend by the Indian troops at the Line of Control in Kotli Sector, which killed three civilians and injured fifteen.

“The Indian deputy high commissioner was called in by the director general (SA& SAARC) today,” a statement issued by Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said. “A protest was lodged against unprovoked ceasefire violations on 15 to 16 August, by the Indian troops at the Line of Control in Kotli Sector, which resulted in martyrdom of three civilians, Shafi Khan (55), Shahpal Khan (56) and Sara Khatoon,” it said. Moreover, 15 civilians were also injured as a result of Indian fire, it added.

The deputy high commissioner was told that the Indian side must investigate the incident, share findings of the investigations with Pakistan, instruct its troops to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, and maintain peace on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has noted with regret and deep concern that during the last two months there have been 70 ceasefire violations from the Indian side of the LoC and the Working Boundary.

At least three civilians, including a woman, were killed and over a dozen injured in unprovoked firing by the Indian troops on various forward villages along Line of Control in Nakial Sector of Kotli District over the weekend. Last week, Indian troops fired along the Line of Control in Kailer area of Bagh District and Nakial, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported. Pakistani troops responded befittingly to the unprovoked firing. Islamabad had lodged a protest with India over the ceasefire violations.

Exchanges of sporadic fire are common along the de facto border dividing the region, despite a ceasefire pact signed in 2003. But the extent and intensity of the latest violence and the number of civilian deaths is unusual. Thousands of people have died as a result of the turmoil in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The recent fighting comes even as the top security advisers of both countries are scheduled to meet in the Indian capital on August 23.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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