ISLAMABAD, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan summoned a senior Indian diplomat on Friday and lodged a formal protest over recent ceasefire violations that injured two civilians along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kashmir region, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.
A Foreign Ministry's statement said that Indian forces committed ceasefire violations in Nezapir and Rakhchikri sectors of the LoC on Thursday, resulting in serious injuries to two innocent civilians. A 22-year-old woman was among the injured due to "indiscriminate and unprovoked firing" by the Indian forces, the statement said.
India has committed 2,580 ceasefire violations to date this year, resulting in 19 deaths and serious injuries to 199 innocent civilians, the statement further said.
"The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons," it said.
Pakistan and India declared a ceasefire along the LoC, the de facto border between both countries in the disputed Kashmir region and the working boundary in 2003. However, both sides routinely exchange fire and accuse each other of ceasefire violations.
The Indian diplomat was told that such "senseless acts" are in clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct.
"These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security," the statement said.
The Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding, investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB.
Tension has been heightened after India lifted the special status for the Indian-controlled Kashmir in August 2019. Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations, suspended trade relations and train service with India in response. Enditem
