In a tit-for-tat move, Islamabad on Monday summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner to complain against what it alleges was “unprovoked” firing by the Indian forces along the border in Jammu and Kashmir. The protest comes a day after India summoned Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit to register its strong protest against continued ceasefire violations along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.
India and Pakistan have been trading charges on ceasefire violations that have resulted in the death of defence personnel and also led to the loss of civilian lives. The instances of ceasefire violations have peaked in the run up to the August 23-24 talks scheduled between the National Security Advisors.
On Monday, while India complained of heavy shelling by the Pakistan Army along the Line of control (LoC) in the Balakot sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad alleged Indian troops had violated ceasefire on August 15 and 16 in the Kotli sector of the State.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a protest was lodged against “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by the Indian troops at the Line of Control in Kotli Sector, which resulted in the death of three civilians and injuries to 15 other.
“The Deputy High Commissioner was conveyed 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,” the statement read.
While India claims there have been 192 instances of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir till July 29 this year, Islamabad alleges that in the past two months, there have been 70 ceasefire violations from the Indian side.
