Pakistan summons Indian envoy over 'ceasefire violations'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today summoned India's deputy high commissioner for the fourth time this month over the alleged "ceasefire violations" by Indian troops along the Line of Control.

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces in Leepa sector yesterday, the Foreign Office said.

It said two women - identified as Sumaira and Maryam - were killed in the firing that also injured six people.

Faisal said that despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations.

"The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," Faisal said.

"The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," he added.

The Foreign Office said Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace along the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

Faisal claimed that Indian forces have carried out more than 1,150 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary this year, resulting in the death of 49 civilians.

Singh was earlier summoned by the Foreign Office on October 15. He was also summoned on October 2 and October 4 over the alleged "ceasefire violations".