Pakistan summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh for the second consecutive day on Friday over “unprovoked firing” by Indian troops across the Line of Control.
The Foreign Office said Director-General (South Asia & SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Mr. Singh, and condemned the “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by the Indian forces along the LoC in the Bhimber/Samahini sectors on Thursday.
The firing killed a civilian and injured his wife and son, it said, adding that Indian troops were using “heavy mortar”.
Mr. Faisal said that despite calls for restraint, India continued to violate the ceasefire.
415 ceasefire violations
India carried out more than 415 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary so far in 2018, resulting in the killings of 20 civilians and injuries to 71 others, he said.
He said this “unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations”.
“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,” Mr. Faisal said.
Pakistan 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.
