-Vows matching response to Indian ceasefire violations at LoC
-Foreign Office summons Indian envoy, strong protest lodged
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that the Indian Army shall always get befitting response to ceasefire violations, adding that the Pakistan Army shall protect innocent civilians along Line of Control (LoC) and defend honour, dignity and territorial integrity of motherland at all costs.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement on Wednesday, General Bajwa visited forward troops along LoC and was briefed about the latest situation, Indian troops’ frequent ceasefire violations deliberately targeting innocent civilians and Pakistan Army’s response.
Appreciating operational preparedness and high morale of troops, COAS lauded officers and men for continued vigilance and professionalism. “Blatant atrocities by Indian occupation forces on innocent Kashmiris and unethical targeting of civil population in AJK is unacceptable. Indian provocations are a threat to regional peace and stability,” COAS emphasised.
General Qamar also appreciated the formation for strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols and proactive assistance to the government of AJK in fighting the coronavirus. “Army will continue to support the national effort against [the] pandemic,” COAS concluded. Corps Commander Rawalpindi Corps and Lieutenant General Azhar Abbas received COAS at the LoC.–ISPR
Our Diplomatic Correspondent Adds: A senior Indian diplomat was summoned at the Foreign Office on Wednesday to register Pakistan’s strong protest over the ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on April 28, resulting in serious injuries to civilians.
Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Rakhchikri sector, two women Roqaya Begum, 45, resident of Village Naban and Sarwar Bibi, 60, resident of Village Kirni, sustained serious injuries.
“Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are a violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding between the two sides, and are against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct,” the Foreign Office said in a statement issued here. The statement added that Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) continuously targeted civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons and this year alone, it committed 913 ceasefire violations.
“These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security,” it said.
It was stressed that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India could not divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).
Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB.
The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.
