In its fresh demarche issued to Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner on Thursday, India condemned the recent incident of mutilation of Indian soldier’s body. This was the fourth demarche issued to Pakistan this month on the continued ceasefire violation (CFV) from the other side of the line of Control. India also protested against targeting its villages along the loC and killing of civilian population by Pakistani Army.
In the demarche, the Ministry of External Affairs said that despite calls for restraint, Pakistan forces committed 27 CFV between November 16 and 21, by resorting to calibre escalation and employing artillery and 120 millimetre heavy mortars against Indian posts. “These violent acts constitute a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2003,” said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
The Government conveyed that it strongly deplored the tacit support of the Pakistan Army to armed terrorists that came from close to Pakistan Army posts on 22 November, targeting an Indian patrol near the loC in Machhal Sector opposite Pakistan’s Kel Sector, and killing three Indian soldiers, including inhuman mutilation of the body of one of them.
“The Government also protested the deliberate targeting by the Pakistan Army of 18 villages along the loC between 16 -21 November which resulted in a non fatal casualty besides causing extensive damage to public and private property and the displacement of civilian population,” Swarup said. He added that the Government conveyed its grave concerns at the continued attempts to infiltrate armed terrorists from across the loC to target Indian posts and patrols. According to MEA during the last week alone, there have been 15 instances when terrorists indulged in nefarious actions from the vicinity of Pakistani Army posts across the loC.
MEA also expressed concerns about the safety of Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan, who inadvertently crossed over the loC seven weeks back saying India expects his early repatriation and safe return.
Meanwhile, India rejected Pak allegations that New Delhi has denied it overflight permissions for military aircrafts. India said Pak does not provide necessary information concerning the nature of cargo and passengers it is carrying in the military aircraft despite several reminders.
Alleging that India was rejecting overflight clearance to Pakistan, it has alleged that this was in violation of the 1991 Agreement on prevention of air space violations and for permitting over flights and landing by military aircraft.
Swarup clarified that that as per ‘Appendix A’ of the 1991 Agreement in this regard, essential information concerning the nature of cargo and passengers is required in respect of military aircraft. “Requests from the Government of Pakistan were received in a couple of cases without this essential information. Despite several reminders, including in a meeting between Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner and Joint Secretary (PAI) in New Delhi on 9 November 2016, Pakistan did not provide the information. Our expectation is that Pakistan will respect the requirements mutually agreed in bilateral agreements,” Swarup said.
He added that incidentally, in another recent case, when Pakistan had provided all necessary information for Gulfstream aircraft of Pakistan Air Force proposing to carry a VIP delegation from lahore to Colombo and back to lahore the flight permission was provided expeditiously.
On another issue of Pakistan forming a special group to expose Indian atrocities in Kashmir and Pak PM’s advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz’s statement of Pakistan intending to woo Indians opposed to Indian PM Narendra Modi, Swarup said that Pakistan’s efforts have not gathered any traction on the international stage. “Pakistan would be well advised to focus its energies on stemming the rot of terrorism instead of expending its breath in making baseless allegations. He (Aziz) would be well advised to rather woo Pakistanis to end his Government’s policy of state sponsorship of terrorism,” Swarup said.