ISLAMABAD, April 3: Pakistan has remained on ‘alert’ to thwart a possible misadventure by India despite efforts to de-escalate tensions, cautioned the foreign office spokesperson on Wednesday.
“We are passing through a difficult phase in our relations with India. We are trying and have taken steps to de-escalate the tension but as our Prime Minister [Imran Khan] has said, we need to remain on alert,” Dr Muhammad Faisal, the Director General (SA & SAARC), told reporters in the federal capital.
His comments came after Pakistan accused the Indian army of violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.
The military’s media wing said Indian army increased ceasefire violations along the LoC in the last 72 hours.
Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia was also summoned to the Foreign Office over the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces on April 1 and 2.
Dr Faisal condemned the latest incidents, in which a teenage boy was martyred and five women among seven civilians were injured, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
On Monday, four innocent civilians, identified as Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Shahzad, Akbar Jaan and Kousar Parveen, were injured in Nezapir, Rakhchikri, Hotspring and Jandrot sectors along the Line of Control. Muhammad Attique, an eighteen years old boy and resident of Jugal Pal, was martyred and three women, Fareeda Begum, Azmat Begum and Rehmat Bibi all residents of Jigot Bahadur sustained injuries in Kotkottera and Khuiratta sectors the following day.
On Tuesday, the Indian troops also intentionally targeted innocent civilians travelling in a civil bus in Bagsar sector.
“This is not only in clear violation of existing arrangement but also unethical and immoral,” read the statement, adding that the Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary were continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons.
This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.
Terming the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas as deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws, the FO spokesperson said the ceasefire violations by India were a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.-Agencies
