A Pakistan Army soldier and two citizens were martyred as the Indian forces again committed ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LoC), Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) said on Thursday.
According a press release issued by the ISPR, the cross-border aggression was carried out in Kailer and Rakhchikri sectors.
In Kailer Sector, the Indian troops targeted Pakistan Army posts with automatics and heavy weapons which resulted in the martyrdom of Lance Naik Ali Baz. The martyrdom soldier was 34-years-old and a resident of Karak.
Meanwhile, the ISPR said the Pakistan Army responded effectively, as there are reports of heavy losses to the Indian troops in men and material.
On the other hand, the Indian forces deliberately targeted the civilian population in Rakhchikri Sector through indiscriminate fire.
See Also: Indian Army getting befitting response to ceasefire violations: Bajwa
As a result, 16-year-old girl and a 52-year-old woman were martyred at Kirni village. The Indian aggression also resulted in injuries to 10-year-old boy and 55-year-old woman.
The latest ceasefire violations came as Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited forward troops along the LoC and said. “Blatant atrocities by Indian occupation forces on innocent Kashmiris and unethical targeting of civil population in AJK is unacceptable. Indian provocations are a threat to regional peace and stability.”
“Indian Army shall always get befitting response to ceasefire violations. The Pakistan Army shall protect innocent civilians along LOC and defend honour, dignity and territorial integrity of motherland at all costs,” he added.
The Indian military has increased the frequency of ceasefire violations at LoC this year, especially after the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.
In an earlier report, Middle East Eye said the Indian army had been accused of war crimes after videos emerged of its military firing at targets in Pakistan from civilian areas of Indian-held Kashmir.
Residents in the Muslim-majority village of Panzgam in Kupwara district said the Indian forces entered the area with heavy artillery late last week and began using the village as a base to launch attacks against the Pakistan Army.
Villagers said that not only were they placed in the direct line of retaliatory attacks but the deafening sound from Bofor artillery guns had damaged homes, terrorised children and turned the quiet village into a war zone.
FO summons Indian envoy
Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri summoned the Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Thursday to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rakhchikri Sector on April 29, 2020, resulting in shahadats and serious injuries to innocent civilians.
The Indian indiscriminate and unprovoked firing in Kirni village left two innocent female civilians 16-year-old Zobia Bibi and 52-year-old Rasheeda Bibi martyred while two civilians 10-year-old Faizan Hassan and 55-year-old Roshna Bibi sustained serious injuries.
In 2020, alone India has committed 919 ceasefire violations and deliberately targeted innocent civilians living close to the LoC in Azad Jammu & Kashmir with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons.
Condemning the targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, the director general (SA & SAARC) underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding.
The widespread disregard by India for international human rights and international norms are further vitiating the tense environment, and are posing a serious threat to regional peace and security.
Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary, India cannot divert attention from the grave 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 along the LoC and the Working Boundary.
The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.