Pak lodges protest with India over ceasefire violations

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jabbar, Sandhara, Sumbal Gali and Dabsi villages of Kotli District on February 9, 2020, resulting in serious injuries to 10 innocent civilians including children and women.

Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned by Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, to register Pakistan’s strong protest at the ceasefire violations.

Due to the indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces, the civilians who suffered serious injuries at Jabbar village include Muhammad Shabbir s/o Sakhi Muhammad, Jamila Bibi d/o Muhammad Din, Amin s/o Muhammad Din, Yasin and Safin s/o Yasin.

The civilians who suffered serious injuries at Sandhara village include Haleem s/o Jamal Din, Zeeshan s/o Haleem and Junaid s/o Haleem.

The civilians who suffered serious injuries at Sumbal Gali and Dabsi villages include Zubaida Bibi w/o Muhammad Zaheer and Zaheer s/o Naqeeb Ullah, respectively.

Condemning the targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, the DG (South Asia & 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, further vitiate the tense atmosphere along the Line of Control (LoC) and are a threat to regional peace and security.

He added that by raising tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB), India cannot divert attention from the worsening human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

The DG (SA & SAARC) called upon the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

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 (UNSC).