*ISLAMABAD: *
The Indian Charge d’Affaires was summoned by the country's foreign ministry on Saturday to lodge a protest against the "deliberate targeting" of military observers assigned to the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
The UN military observers were en route to Polas village in the Chirikot sector of the Line of Control (LOC) to interact with villagers affected by unabated ceasefire violations (CFV) by India when their vehicle came under fire on Friday from the Indian side of the disputed border.
The vehicle was damaged link in the incident, but the two UN military observers travelling in it remained unharmed. They were safely rescued and evacuated by the Pakistan Army to Rawalakot.
"The deliberate targeting of a UN vehicle, engaged in discharging the mandate of the UN Security Council, constitutes a grave violation of India’s obligations, under the Council’s resolutions and the UN Charter, which includes the obligation to ensure the safety and security of the UNMOGIP Observers." said the statement by the ministry.
"It appears to be a new coercive and reckless Indian ploy to hinder the observers’ work."