RAWALPINDI : A civilian was martyred and two children sustained gunshotwounds when Indian troops resorted to unprovoked shelling on the eve ofKashmir Solidarity Day in two districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK),Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
According to army’s media wing, Indian security forces targeted civilpopulation along the Line of Control (LoC) in its latest violation ofceasefire accord.
“Indian forces opened unprovoked firing in Nezapir and Rawalakot sectors,targeting the civil population,” the ISPR said.
In the statement, it was further said that Pakistan army respondedeffectively to the India posts indulged in targeting the civilians.
This is the latest in a series of unabated and unprovoked breach of theceasefire along the heavily militarized LoC, which divides the disputedHimalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir between Pakistan and India.
There has been a spike in ceasefire violations in the month of January,which had resulted in many casualties and injuries to many more people.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif last week informed the Senate that Indiantroops have committed over 170 ceasefire violations along the LoC andWorking Boundary (WB) in January 2018.
At least 11 people have been killed while 51 others injured in Januaryalone.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Monday again summoned Indian Deputy High CommissionerJ.P Singh Commissioner at Foreign office and lodged strong protest over therecent unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian troops at line of controlin Nezapir, Nakyal and Karela sectors. Two innocent civilians martyred andseven injured.
In a statement, the Foreign Office Spokesperson urged the Indian side torespect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement for maintenance of peace andtranquility on the LoC and the Working Boundary.
The spokesperson said the Indian forces are continuously targeting thecivilian populated areas with heavy mortars and automatic weapons along theline of control and the working boundary.
He said the Indian forces have so far carried out more than 190 ceasefireviolations this year, resulting in the shahadat of thirteen innocentcivilians. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by Indiais continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970ceasefire violations.
The spokesperson deplored the deliberate targeting of civilian populatedareas terming it contrary to human dignity, international human rights andhumanitarian laws. He said ceasefire violations by India are a threat toregional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.
Minister for Defence Production, Science and Technology Rana TanveerHussain has urged the international community to break silence onatrocities meted out to Kashmiris by the Indian forces and play itsproactive role to provide Kashmiris their right of self-determination.
He was talking to newsmen after inaugurating several development schemes inMuridke near Sheikhupura on Monday.
Rana Tanveer Hussain condemned the unprovoked aggression of Indian forcesalong the Line of Control and Working Boundary.
Later, addressing a public gathering, the Defence Production Minister saidthat common man has full right over national resources. He said that PML-Ngovernment has diverted all resources towards the development of backwardareas to improve living standards of people. – NNI