ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK – Pakistan has taken up reprehensible attack by India on the UNMOGIP Observers and their vehicle along the Line of Control (LoC) with the United Nations, urging it to initiate a transparent investigation into the incident.
Pakistan has urged the UN to initiate a transparent investigation into the incident, a statement issued by Foreign Office stated on Sunday.
In a letter to the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and the President of the Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram stated that deliberate targeting of the UN Observers and their vehicle – which was clearly marked with UN logo and flying a blue flag of the UN – appears to be a new coercive and reckless ploy by India to hinder UNMOGIP’s work, and facilitate another Indian military misadventure against Pakistan.
The letter added, "Pakistan had credible information that the RSS-BJP Government was planning to stage a ‘false flag’ attack to divert attention from its domestic difficulties, and create justification for another misadventure against Pakistan."
"If that were to happen, Pakistan will exercise its right to self-defence," the letter warns.
The letter from Pakistan’s Permanent Representative requests the UN to forcefully condemn the attack on the UNMOGIP Observers and call on India to observe the 2003 ceasefire understanding. The UN must respond positively and urgently to repeated calls by Pakistan to strengthen UNMOGIP and improve its ability to observe and report on ceasefire violations, the letter contends.
It comes a day after Islamabad summoned a senior Indian diplomat to protest the ceasefire violation and the deliberate targeting of United Nations observers in the disputed Kashmir region.