New Delhi: India on Thursday summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest against repeated ceasefire violations during Ramadan, which saw killings of more than 10 civilians including a seven-month-old toddler.
“Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah was summoned and a strong protest was lodged at the loss of life of a seven-month-old infant in unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces on May 21. It was conveyed to Shah that the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by Pakistani forces is highly deplorable and condemned in the strongest terms,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
It said Pakistan government was asked to investigate acts of killing innocent civilians in unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LoC).
“Targeting of innocent civilians, including young children, is against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. Pakistani authorities must instruct their forces to desist from such acts immediately,” the MEA said.
India also asked Pakistan to stop supporting cross-border infiltration by terrorists.
“Our strong concerns were also shared at continued unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and the international boundary,” the Ministry said.
According to MEA, more than 1,088 ceasefire violations have been carried out by Pakistan so far in 2018.
“In 2018, Indian security forces have thwarted attempts by 53 terrorists to infiltrate, and have neutralised five terrorists,” the statement read.
At least five civilians were killed and 30 people, including six Border Security Force (BSF) jawans, were injured in shelling by Pakistani rangers on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Pakistani forces again resorted to unprovoked firing along LoC.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir’s (J & K) Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid said the ceasefire announced by the central government with local militants in the state had yielded results.
“There had been only six incidents of stone pelting reported between May 17 and May 20, just after the introduction of the ceasefire. The initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has helped in general improvement in law and order. The situation especially in south Kashmir has eased and is serving as a confidence-building measure for families who want their boys to return home,” Vaid tweeted.
But union minister Jitendra Singh said the ceasefire in Kashmir was conditional.
“Those who follow Islam, if they can’t respect the sanctity of Ramadan, you can’t expect security forces to have sympathy. If terrorists and stone pelters indulge in violence then they will be treated as they ought to be treated,” Singh said.
