Pakistan lodges protest with Indian acting high commissioner over LoC violations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the acting Indian high commissioner to lodge a protest over Indian violations of the Line of Control (LoC).

The Foreign Office lodged a strong protest with Indian acting high commissioner over the LoC violation and handed him a letter of protest. 

"The Director General Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control on February 26, in Nikial and Khuiratta Sectors which resulted in the martyrdom of four innocent civilians Mottia Bibi,  Zarina, Gulfaraz and Shehnaz, while injuring six others," the FO statement read.

Six citizens martyred in Indian unprovoked firing along LoC

Pakistan forces responded befittingly to Indian firing

The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations, it added.

"The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," FO further said.

The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. 

Dr Faisal urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. 

Earlier today, the PAF shot down two Indian aircraft and arrested a pilot.