Unprovoked firing: Pakistan summons Indian envoy 5th time

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday over unprovoked firing by the Indian troops across the Line of Control resulting in the martyrdom of two persons.

Tensions have increased between the two sides due to ongoing border skirmishes.

Director General (South Asia and Saarc) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces, the Foreign Office said.

In a statement, it said latest violation by Indian forces occurred on January 20-21, when 18 Indian posts resorted to unprovoked firing with mortars and heavy weapons in the Nikial sector at the LoC.

The firing killed two civilians, a 33-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, and injured another women and a girl, the Foreign Office said.

Faisal said deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas was indeed deplorable and against the human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The repeated ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation, he asserted.

He urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and investigate the repeated incidents of ceasefire violations, the statement said.

Faisal also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. The FO, apart from Sunday, had summoned JP Singh on January 15, 18, 19 and 20.