News Analysis |
A civilian, Abdul Rauf, embraced martyrdom due to unprovoked Indian firing on civil population in Kotkoterra Sector along the Line of Control on Tuesday. According to a press release issued by the ISPR, the martyred man was grazing his animals when targeted by the Indian troops. On August 18, one civilian was martyred as Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing, targeting civilians along the LoC in Danna sector.
The Director-General (SA & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner Mr. J. P. Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces in Kotkotera Sector along the Line of Control on 4 September 2018, resulting in the shahadat of one innocent civilian (Mr. Abdur Rauf)
The Director-General (SA & SAARC) urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC.
The deliberate targeting of civilian population areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.
The Director-General (SA & SAARC) urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC. He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.
Read more: Viral video shows Indian anger against New Delhi over LoC firing
The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons. In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 1400 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the deaths of 30 innocent civilians, while injuring 121 others. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations).
In May, Pakistani and Indian military officials in a rare move had agreed to avoid artillery exchanges in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, where several soldiers and civilians had died that month. The Pakistani military said in a statement late Tuesday that the understanding was reached between the sides during a special hotline contact involving the director generals of military operations.
The armed struggle continued despite increased Indian brutality that turned Kashmir into the world’s one of the most militarized region
It says both sides “agreed to undertake sincere measures to improve the existing situation, ensuring peace and avoidance of hardships to the civilians along the borders.” The region of Kashmir is a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed powers of South Asia. The dispute began when during the partition of the British occupied subcontinent, the refusal of the area’s hereditary ruler Hari Singh to comply with his people’s wishes led to a rebellion.
Faced with losing his freedom to a people’s army aided by tribesman from across the border, the ruler acquiesced to India in return for military aid. This led to a war between newly found India and Pakistan and later on the division of Kashmir into Azad Kashmir and IOK.
Read more: Indian forces continue cowardly attacks on civilians along LOC
After the UN ordered a ceasefire and subsequent UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite, India backtracked from its earlier agreements and started a campaign of militarization to subjugate the part of Kashmir in its control. The Kashmiri people continued their efforts for self-determination.
However, an armed component of the peaceful self-determination campaign emerged in 1987 after the Indian government rigged elections in IOK to stop pro-Independence candidates from winning. The armed struggle continued despite increased Indian brutality that turned Kashmir into the world’s one of the most militarized region