Pakistan Summons Senior Indian Diplomat Over Ceasefire Violation

Army personnel pay tribute to Naik Krishan Lal, who was killed along the LoC in shelling from the Pakistani side.

(Photo: PTI)

Pakistan on Thursday, 1 August, summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned the alleged “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC), saying such actions are a threat to regional peace and may lead to a “strategic miscalculation,” PTI reported.

This was the second time in a week that Gaurav Ahluwalia was summoned by the Foreign Office (FO) for the firing along the LoC on 30 July, in which two persons, including a woman, were killed.

Two persons, including a woman, and 15 others were injured in the firing at Nauseri sector along the LoC, the statement said.

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal claimed the Indian forces along the LoC and Working Boundary have been "continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars, and automatic weapons."

WHAT INDIA HAS SAID

Amid fresh tensions between India and Pakistan along the LoC, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier written a letter to the Pakistan High Commission in India, saying the government "deplores and condemns in the strongest terms... deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by Pakistan forces."

"This is against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. Pakistan authorities are called up to investigate into such heinous acts of killing innocent civilians and instructs its forces to desist from such acts immediately," the MEA said in its letter.

On Tuesday, 30 July, India made a strong démarche with the Pakistan High Commission against the killing of an innocent Indian civilian in an unprovoked act of firing by the Pakistani forces, sources cited by ANI said.

CONTINUING VIOLATIONS

Pakistani troops on Wednesday, 31 July, opened fire and shelled mortars along the LoC in J&K's Rajouri district, officials cited by PTI said, making it the fourth consecutive day of firing and shelling by the Pakistan Army targeting civilian areas along LoC in Poonch and Rajouri.

A baby and a jawan have been killed in the firing and shelling, and two others have been injured. The Army jawan, Naik Krishan Lal, was cremated on Wednesday with full military honours at his native village in Jammu.

Indian troops on Wednesday gave a befitting reply, resulting in heavy damage to Pakistani Army posts and casualties to Pakistani soldiers, officials added.

Pakistan troops had shelled forward areas and villages along the LoC in Tanghar area of North Kashmir on Tuesday. On Monday, Pakistani troops had shelled areas along the LoC in Mankote and Shahpur sectors of Poonch district.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)