Five killed in Indian firing on LoC, WB

ISLAMABAD: Four people were killed and five others were injured in Sialkot’s Chaprar sector across the Working Boundary (WB) on Thursday while another person was killed in shooting across the LoC when the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened unprovoked firing.
The ISPR and the Foreign Office giving details said that the firing by the Indian BSF in thePhuklian-Akhnor sector started early morning on July 15, 2015, which continued till sunset.“Those who were killed in the BSF firing were identified as Ghulam Mustafa, 45, Rahat and Boota, residents of village Malana and Salehpur villages in the Chaprar sector near Sialkot,” the ISPR said. The identity of another victim could not be ascertained.
Further, Zareena, 18, died at the LoC in the Nezapir Sector near Rawlakot.Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan was summoned to the Foreign Office by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and a strong protest was lodged over the unprovoked ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB) and airspace violation in the Banchirian Sector (near Bhimber).
The foreign secretary also registered the government’s concern over heli manoeuvers near the LoC on July 11, 2015, which was an offensive and threatening posture.The foreign secretary emphasised that in the spirit of maintaining peace and tranquility at the LoC and the WB and the region at large, it was important that the 2003 understanding on maintaining ceasefire was observed.
The Indian high commissioner assured of conveying the message to his authorities, accordingly.The spokesman told the media that the unprovoked ceasefire violations by India at the LoC and the Working Boundary were against the spirit of the understanding reached in Ufa.
“Peace and tranquility on the LoC and the Working Boundary is in the interest of both the sides,” he said.Keeping the eastern bordersin the final stages of its operation on its western borders and can ill afford to be engaged with Indian troops.
The Foreign Secretary also protested the ceasefire violations which took place this morning at LoC and Working Boundary (WB), resulting in the martyrdom of Muhammad Sadiq, resident of village Malane in Chaprar sector and injury of three other civilians namely Muhammad Boota, Muhammad Arshad and Shahid. Details of further causalities were being ascertained.
Protest was also lodges over air space violation at Banchirian Sector (near Bhimber) on Wednesday when an Indian UAV (spy drone) entered Pakistan’s air space in violation of the International Law, Pakistan’s territorial integrity and the two agreements of 1991 on Air Space Violation, and SOPs of Advance Notice for Military Exercises, Military Manoeuvers and Troops Movement.
The UAV was brought down by Pakistani troops.Protest was also lodged for the LoC violation at Nezapir sector as the Indian side started unprovoked firing at midnight on July 16, 2015 while at the Working Boundary at Chaprar sector, the Indian BSF started fire at 01:25am which lasted until 05:00am. The Pakistani troops while exercising restraint also responded.
However, despite these continued violations by New Delhi, diplomats and senior officials on both the sides were in touch with each other with the spokesman at the Foreign Office In New Delhi, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit was in touch with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and spoke to him three times where both the sides protested saying, “Pakistan is committed to abide by the decisions taken at the Ufa meeting (between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi).He said that the policy of good-neighbourly relations pursued by Pakistan as part of the prime minister’s vision for the region.
“The government’s agenda of peace and security in the region is through resolution of disputes, while promoting connectivity, development and prosperity for the people of Pakistan and the region”, he added.
Pakistan hopes that despite ceasefire violations by India at the LoC and Working Boundary which have also taken place in the past, “Pakistan did not turn away from discussing outstanding issues with India”, said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told the media that he had also spoken to Basit while Ragahavan had been in touch with Pakistan’s Foreign Office for the last 36 hours.Pakistani diplomats are questioning S Jaishankar turning to the media when normally the commanders where the firing takes place take the media in confidence. He also claimed that BSF Jammu tried in vain to contact his counterpart in Sialkot for two hours.