Pak Alleges Use of Cluster Bombs Along LoC, India Rebuts Claims
The Indian Army said that the allegations were yet another example of “Pakistan’s lies, deceit and deception.”
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The Pakistani military on Saturday, 3 August, alleged that the Indian Army had used cluster bombs and targeted civilians along the Line of Control (LoC), in violation of the Geneva Convention and international law.
Refuting the claims, the Indian Army said that the allegations were, “yet another (example of) Pakistan's lies, deceit and deception,” as per ANI.
Condemning the incident, spokesperson of Pakistan Armed Forces Major General Asif Ghafoor said, “No weapon can suppress determination of Kashmiris to get their right of self-determination.”
According to Pakistan military statement, the Indian Army targeted civilian population in Neelam Valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) across the LoC by resorting to cluster ammunition on the night of 30 July and 31 July, Dawn reported.
Two civilians, including a four-year-old boy, died and 11 others were critically injured in the attack, according to the Dawn report.
‘Violation of Geneva Convention’
Referring to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the ISPR, Pakistan military's media wing said, the alleged used of cluster bombs was in violation of Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law and an act of “blatant aggression.”
The cluster bombs also have a wide-area effect and also pose a lasting threat as many bomblets fail to explode on impact, Dawn reported.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned the alleged use of cluster ammunition and said that India “in its war frenzy is not only sabotaging regional peace but also committing gross human rights violations along the LOC.”
Further, he urged the international community to take notice of the ongoing situation.
Qureshi also shared images of civilians who sustained injuries from the Indian troops' alleged use of cluster bombs.
When asked by Dawn how Pakistan would respond to the Indian aggression, the minister said diplomatic means would be used to direct the attention of the international community. Information in this regard, he said, would be shared with the envoys of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council.
‘Action is Strictly Against Terrorists’
Meanwhile, India maintained that its action is strictly against terrorists and Pakistan army installations which provide cover fire for attempts to enter the Indian side.
The Indian Army said it “has maintained the right to respond” as Pakistan army regularly attempts to push terrorists through infiltrations and opens up with multitude of weapons to assist them, ANI reported.
There were fresh violations of ceasefire across the LoC in the last few days. India retaliated with heavy fire which led to Pakistan summoning the Indian High Commission official to protest shelling that allegedly killed two civilians.
(With inputs from Dawn and ANI.)
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