FO summons acting Indian DHC, records protest over ceasefire violations

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office summoned on Tuesday the acting Indian deputy high commissioner and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC), according to an FO spokesman.

Director General South Asia and SAARC, Dr Mohammad Faisal, summoned the acting Indian deputy high commissioner a day after the martyrdom of three Pakistan Army troops in unprovoked, cross-border firing by Indian forces in the LoC's Rakhchikri sector.

Dr Faisal categorically rejected Indian claims that there was any crossing of the LoC by the Indian forces, the spokesman said in a statement, adding that Indian actions got a befitting response from the Pakistani side, which silenced their guns.

"The false claims by India about the adventures across LoC are a figment of their imagination and counter-productive for peace and tranquility across the control line," the statement said.

"The DG South Asia and SAARC urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate Rakhchikri and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the agreement in letter and spirit, and maintain peace along the LoC," it said further.

Three Army soldiers martyred by Indian firing across LoC: ISPR

One soldier was injured in the incident of firing which occurred in the Rakhchikri sector

Incidents of firing from across the border increased after the right-wing government of Narendra Modi came to power in India and have caused significant material and human loss.

Indian forces have used medium and heavy weapons in recent times to target the civilian population of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Army posts along the LoC.

Dr Faisal further urged the Indian side to permit United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions, the statement added.

Pakistan's top civilian and military leadership has expressed serious concerns over repeated violations by India of the ceasefire agreement along the LoC.

In November, the army chief and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited the LoC and condemned the unprofessional approach by Indian forces.

Another soldier of the Pakistan Army was martyred in the same area of the LoC in September when Indian troops targeted civilian population with heavy weapons.

Earlier in the month, two civilians were martyred after Indian forces opened fire on a funeral procession in Azad Kashmir.