MUZAFFARABAD: A soldier of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) due to unprovoked ceasefire violation by Ind­ian troops along the restive Line of Control (LoC), the military’s media affairs wing confirmed on Thursday.

The ceasefire violations occurred in AJK’s Haveli district on Wednesday afternoon during which two women had also embraced martyrdom while two other civilians were injured in Rakhchkiri sector.

“In Kailer sector, Indian troops targeted Pakistan Army posts with automatics and heavy weapons,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in an early morning statement.

Pakistan Army, said the ISPR, effectively responded to Indian shelling and there were reports of “heavy losses to Indian troops in men and material”.

During the exchange of intense fire, 34-year-old Lance Naik Ali Baz, a resident of Karak district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, embraced martyrdom, the ISPR said.

On Wednesday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had also paid a visit to some unspecified forward locations along the LoC during which he had termed India’s provocative actions as thr­eat to regional peace and security.

Gen Bajwa had also made it clear that Indian troops would always receive a “befitting response” to the ceasefire violations.

According to Syed Shahid Mohyiddin Qadri, secretary civil defence and disaster management in the AJK government, six civilians have embraced martyrdom and another 61 have sustained injuries in ceasefire violations by Indian army in the ongoing year.

In a statement, AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider paid rich tribute to the martyred soldier and civilians and said their sacrifices would not go in vain.

Condemning unrelenting ceasefire violations by the Indian army in a serious breach of November 2003 truce agreement, he called upon the international community and the United Nations not to “turn a blind eye to India’s blatant acts of belligerence in the interest of global peace and security”.

Any further silence and non-intervention on the part of international comm­unity would amount to fraternising with the exponents of dogmatism and fanaticism,” Mr Haider said.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2020