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.