Pakistan takes up Indian attack on international military observers' vehicle with UN

ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK – Pakistan has taken up reprehensible attack by India on the UNMOGIP Observers and their vehicle along the Line of Control (LoC) with the United Nations, urging it to initiate a transparent investigation into the incident. 

Pakistan has urged the UN to initiate a transparent investigation into the incident, a statement issued by Foreign Office stated on Sunday.

In a letter to the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and the President of the Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram stated that deliberate targeting of the UN Observers and their vehicle – which was clearly marked with UN logo and flying a blue flag of the UN – appears to be a new coercive and reckless ploy by India to hinder UNMOGIP’s work, and facilitate another Indian military misadventure against Pakistan.

The letter added, "Pakistan had credible information that the RSS-BJP Government was planning to stage a ‘false flag’ attack to divert attention from its domestic difficulties, and create justification for another misadventure against Pakistan."

"If that were to happen, Pakistan will exercise its right to self-defence," the letter warns. 

The letter from Pakistan’s Permanent Representative requests the UN to forcefully condemn the attack on the UNMOGIP Observers and call on India to observe the 2003 ceasefire understanding. The UN must respond positively and urgently to repeated calls by Pakistan to strengthen UNMOGIP and improve its ability to observe and report on ceasefire violations, the letter contends.

It comes a day after Islamabad summoned a senior Indian diplomat to protest the ceasefire violation and the deliberate targeting of United Nations observers in the disputed Kashmir region.

"It was communicated to the Indian side that the brazen act was a flagrant violation of established international norms and represented a complete disregard for principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On Friday, Indian troops deliberately opened fire on a UN vehicle carrying two observers on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC), a de facto frontier that divides Kashmir into two parts controlled by Pakistan and India.

The UN observers were on their way to meet with the victims of the Indian ceasefire violation. Both the observers remained unharmed and were evacuated by the Pakistani army.

UN "investigating" cross-border attack on vehicle along LoC between Pakistan, India

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, released photos that showed bullet holes in a vehicle bearing UN markings.

In its letter, Pakistan has also reminded the UN that the illegal and inhuman military siege and communications lockdown in the occupied territory had now lasted for over 500 days. Highlighting the atrocities and crimes committed by Indian occupying forces against the innocent Kashmiris since August 2019, it has been forewarned that India’s ultimate plan is to change the demographic structure of IIOJK from a Muslim majority area into a Hindu majority territory.

While drawing attention to the deteriorating situation along the LoC, Pakistan’s communication recalls that India had committed over 3000 unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary this year alone, primarily targeting the civilian populated areas resulting in 276 casualties, including 92 women and 68 children, out of them 27 had embraced martyrdom.

Indian army targets UN military observers in latest ceasefire violation along LoC