Indian firing: Four persons, including soldier, martyred at LoC

ISLAMABAD: Four persons, including a soldier, embraced martyrdom and seven persons, including two security personnel, were injured in unprovoked Indian firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in Nezapir Sabzkot and Kayani sectors, targeting posts and innocent civil population.

According to the ISPR, the unprovoked Indian firing along the LoC was responded in a befitting manner, killing five soldiers of the Indian Army. The Indian guns turned silent due to effective engagement. “Unprovoked ceasefire violations shall always be responded strongly, aggressively and effectively by the Pakistan Army,” DG ISPR added.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by the Indian forces along the LoC.The prime minister prayed for eternal peace of the martyred souls and grant of courage to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss, said a press release.

He also highly appreciated the prompt and befitting response of the Pakistan Army in silencing the enemy guns.Wednesday saw trouble brewing for Pakistan both on its western and eastern borders, resulting in the Foreign Office telling New Delhi to stop deliberate targeting of civilians, and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) telling Kabul to desist from “rhetoric of blames and suggestive allegations” against its Operation Khyber-4.

As India continues violating the mutually-agreed upon bilateral ceasefire agreement, unprovoked ceasefire violations continued by the Indian occupation forces in Baroh and Tandar sectors on July 18, 2017, resulting in Shahadat of two civilians, including one woman in Barho Sector and a man in Tandar Sector, and injuries to six others.

Pakistan says that such unprovoked firing is indeed “deplorable” and “contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws”.The Deputy High Commissioner of India, JP Singh, was summoned to the Foreign Office by the director general (SA & Saarc) who condemned these incidents.

Earlier, the Pak Director General Military Operations (DGMO) had made a telephonic contact with India, emphasising the need for New Delhi to detest from unprovoked firing which was taking the lives of unarmed civilians, including women.

“The director general urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC. He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions,” spokesman at the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, instead of cooperating with Pakistan whose armed forces are taking their battle into the hideouts of terrorists, Afghanistan has mocked the army’s efforts with the Afghan Ministry of Defence Spokesman Dawlat Waziri saying, “Military operations (by Pakistan) need to be launched in both sides of the Durand Line. Everyone understand the [sic] terrorist centres are located in Pakistan; Quetta Council, Peshawar Council and Miranshah Council that are Taliban groups.”

There was a harsh reaction from the ISPR to this unwarranted Afghan comment with the spokesman saying, “The Pakistan Army anticipates trust-based security coordination and cooperation in the fight against their common enemy” and asked Kabul to shun “rhetoric of blames and suggestive allegations” as these were the “agenda of forces working against order and peace in the region”.

The ISPR also said that the Afghan ministry’s “response to Operation Khyber-4 is unwarranted and runs counter to Pakistan Army’s efforts for better Pak-Afghan coordination and cooperation”.

“The information about Operation Khyber-4 has been shared (twice verbally and in written) with Afghan Forces as well as Resolute Support Mission and [the United States’] Office of the Defence Representative Pakistan,” the army’s public relations wing stated.

Meanwhile, a nine-member delegation of Representatives of All Parties Hurriyat Conference called on the Foreign Affairs Adviser, Sartaj Aziz, on Wednesday.

The adviser noted that Jammu & Kashmir remains the core dispute between India and Pakistan, and its resolution is imperative for bringing peace to South Asia. He underscored that the valiant people of Indian Held Jammu & Kashmir (IHK) are waging a heroic and just struggle against Indian occupation. Pakistan pays rich tribute to Kashmiris for their unmatched sacrifices and unparalleled resilience.

According to a statement from the adviser’s office, the Kashmiri delegation briefed the adviser on the grave human rights situation in the IHK, and expressed concern over the policy of genocide being pursued by the Indian forces, as manifested in the continued bloodshed of defenceless Kashmiris with impunity.

The adviser reaffirmed that people and the Government of Pakistan stand behind the Kashmiris in extending political, diplomatic and moral support to their just struggle. Pakistan continues to pursue its principled position on Jammu & Kashmir and extends its steadfast support to the Kashmiris in their just struggle, as the Kashmir cause remains close to the hearts of every Pakistani, he added.

The delegation presented a synopsis of human rights violations and atrocities perpetrated by the Indian occupation forces in the IHK. Since July last year, over 200 Kashmiris have been martyred, many in extrajudicial killings and fake encounters. They recounted that around 8,000 have already been affected by pellet guns that has blinded more than 250 youths, either fully or partially with another 930 at the verge of losing their eyesight; 697 women have reported molestation by Indian forces; over 19,000 have been injured and around 18,000 arrested arbitrarily with their fate unknown. Over 65,000 houses and structures have been destroyed. The Kashmiri leaders remain in detention in inhuman conditions and some of them are facing serious health issues.

The delegation particularly highlighted a new strategy employed by Indian occupation forces to suppress the Kashmiri movement and dissipate peaceful protesters. They informed the adviser that India was using chemicals in ammunition on peaceful protesters. This was confirmed by the charred and unrecognisable bodies of Kashmiris. They highlighted the adverse impact of draconian AFSPA and PSA laws. They requested Pakistan to continue to insist on the international community’s intervention.