ISLAMABAD: Islamabad on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with New Delhi over ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC).

A senior Indian diplomat was summoned to lodge Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jandrot Sector, on June 9, resulting in serious injuries to four innocent civilians.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces, 26-year-old Nasreen Akhtar, daughter of Ali Akhtar, resident of Sandhara village, 24-year-old Rabia, wife of Mohammad Shakeel and 7-year-old Momina, daughter of Mohammad Hameed, residents of Dera Sher Khan village; and 7-year-old Munshi, son of Sukan Din, resident of Bamroch village sustained serious injuries.

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons. In 2020, India has so far committed 1,296 ceasefire violations resulting in seven deaths and serious injuries to 98 innocent civilians.

Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct.

These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security.

Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding; investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB.

The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2020