Minor martyred, 4 hurt in Indian firing along LoC

Ag APP

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: A two-year old minor was martyred and four citizens, including a woman, were injured critically as Indian troops again initiated unprovoked ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC).

The ISPR said on Monday that the Indian Army troops in total disregard to ceasefire agreement and international conventions initiated unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC. The Indian troops deliberately targeting civilian population in Baroh, Dhudnial, Rakhchikri and Chirikot sectors. Pakistan Army troops effectively responded and targeted those Indian posts which initiated fire. Due to indiscriminate Indian fire of heavy weapons and mortars, a two-year old minor Muhammad Haseeb in Dhudnial Sector embraced Shahadat, while four citizens including a woman and 72-year old senior citizen in Baroh, Rakhchikri and Chirikot sectors sustained serious injuries.

Those injured have been evacuated to nearby health facility for necessary medical care. Meanwhile, Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned at the Foreign Office on Monday to lodge Pakistan's strong protest over the ceasefire violations by Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Dhudnial, Rakhchikri, Chirikot and Baroh sectors on April 12.

Director General (South Asia & Saarc) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry summoned the Indian diplomat and condemned the targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, the Foreign Office said in a statement. He stressed that such "senseless Indian acts", in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and complete disregard for international human rights and international norms, further vitiated the tense atmosphere along the LoC and were a "threat to regional peace and security".

He said by raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB), India could not divert attention from the worsening 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 WB.

He also urged that India should permit the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSC).