The Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Gautam Bambawale, on Monday, registered a strong protest with Pakistani Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, on the repeated unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pak forces. Bambawale emphasised it was apparent that firing from Pakistan side was aimed to provide cover to infiltrators.
The Indian protest was lodged when Pakistan Foreign Secretary had summoned Bambawale to condemn the unprovoked ceasefire violation on the line of Control (loC). Pakistan claimed that firing from the India side had resulted in killing of seven of its soldiers in the Bhimber area.
“Indian High Commissioner on Monday strongly protested to Pak Foreign Secretary on repeated unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pak forces. HC emphasised such Pak firing was to provide cover to infiltrators, resulting in deaths of several Indian civilian & soldiers,” Indian embassy in Islamabad tweeted shortly after the meeting.
Pakistan, on the other hand, said in a statement that Chaudhry asked Bambawale to convey to his Government that it must stop the provocative firing and observe the ceasefire. “Pakistan is pursuing a policy of restraint, which should not be construed as a sign of weakness. He underlined that the Armed Forces of Pakistan did not initiate fire, but will always respond in a befitting manner, if fired upon,” Pak Foreign Office said.
Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz accused India of deliberately targeting villages and civilian populated areas and said Indian actions might lead to ‘strategic miscalculation’. Pakistan claimed it was urging the UNMOGIP to send an urgent report to the UN Security Council to inform them about the serious ceasefire violations along loC and the unwarranted escalation of tension between the two countries.