Pakistan Violates Ceasefire In Jammu And Kashmir’s Poonch District, Indian Army Retaliates

The Pakistani Army on Saturday violated ceasefire across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. It all started with an unprovoked firing of small arms and mortar shelling on forward areas from the Pakistan army, according to Defence spokesperson. The Indian army retaliated strongly.

Earlier, Pakistan summoned a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission and registered a strong protest at the alleged ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

In a statement, the Foreign Office said that four persons, including two women and a child, suffered “serious injuries” due to “indiscriminate and unprovoked firing” in Danna Sector of LoC on February 3.

“...it was underscored that such senseless Indian acts...further vitiate the tense atmosphere along the LoC and pose a threat to regional peace and stability,” the statement said.

It was also emphasized that by raising tensions along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB), India cannot divert attention from Kashmir, FO said.

Pakistan called upon the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB, it said.

It was also urged that India should permit the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, the FO said.

India maintains that the UNMOGIP, established in January 1949, has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the LoC.