SIALKOT (Web Desk) – Unprovoked firing by Indian Border Security Forces on Thursday killed three people and injured five others in Sialkot’s Chaprar sector. Another person was killed by Indian firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in Rawalakot’s Neza Pir sector, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Ghulam Mustafa, Rahat and Muhammad Boota were killed in Sialkot. Zarina Bibi, an 18-year-old, was killed in Rawalakot.
Episodic attacks of firing and shelling which commenced in Sialkot on Wednesday morning are reportedly continued and Pakistani troops are responding with retaliatory firing, Punjab Rangers said.
Rangers sources said the attacks along the Sialkot Working Boundary have mostly harmed civilians, adding that livestock belonging to residents of the area has also been killed, while houses have been partially damaged.
Instances of unprovoked firing across the Indo-Pak border have occurred intermittently over the years.
In March 2015, Indian border forces opened unprovoked fire on some villages in the Charwah sector along the Working Boundary, violating the ceasefire accord, and targeted civilian population.
A similar incident was also reported in January this year, when Indian BSF resorted to unprovoked intensified heavy mortar shelling on several Pakistani villages along the Working Boundary in Sialkot, killing four Pakistani civilians.
In December 2013, the two countries had pledged to uphold the 2003 ceasefire accord which was left in tatters by repeated violations that year. The truce breaches had put the nascent bilateral peace dialogue on hold.
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan T C A Raghavan was summoned to the Foreign Office yesterday by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry to lodge a strong protest over airspace violation at Banchirian Sector near Bhimber.
Read more: Pakistan summons Indian High Commissioner over unprovoked firing
An Indian spy drone had entered Pakistan’s air space in violation of the international law, Pakistan’s territorial integrity and the two agreements of 1991 on Air Space Violation and SOPs of advance notice for military exercises, military maneuvers and troops movement. The UAV was shot down by Pakistani troops.
Read more: Pakistan army shoots down Indian spy drone
FO spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said Aizaz Chaudhry also registered the government’s concern over Heli maneuvers near Line of Control (LoC) on July 11 which was an offensive and threatening posture.
The spokesman said the protest was also lodged over the unprovoked ceasefire violation by Indian BSF at Phuklian-Akhnor sector on July 15 which continued until sunset.
Khaliullah said the FO secretary also protested the ceasefire violations which took place this morning at LoC and Working Boundary.
Chaudhry emphasised that in the spirit of maintaining peace and tranquility at the LoC and WB, and the region at large, it was important that the 2003 understanding on maintaining ceasefire is observed.
Raghavan assured to convey the message to his authorities accordingly.
