ISLAMABAD – Pakistan registered a strong protest with Indian Charged’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia after summoning him to the Foreign Office onMonday over an incident of ceasefire violation by his country’s armedforces, resulting in martyrdom of an innocent civilian along the Line ofControl (LoC) on January 11.
The Indian diplomat was summoned by Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, the directorgeneral of Foreign Office’s South Asia and SAARC chapter, according to anofficial statement.
Muhammad Ishtiaque, a 24-year-old resident of Chowki village in Khuirattadistrict, was martyred due to unprovoked Indian firing in Kotkotera andKarela sectors along the LoC on Saturday.
Condemning the targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupyingforces, Chaudhri stressed that “such senseless Indian acts, in clearviolation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and complete disregard forinternational human rights and international norms, are a threat toregional peace and security”.
By raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB), Indiacannot divert attention from the worsening human rights violations that aretaking place in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOK), he added.
The SA & SAARC DG also called upon the Indian side to respect the ceasefireagreement; investigate Saturday’s and other incidents of deliberateceasefire violations; and take steps to maintain peace along the LoC andthe WB.