Pak envoy summoned over truce violations

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to lodge a strong protest over ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir in which at least six persons were killed.

Basit was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry by Secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa who conveyed India’s strong protest over the issue. The Pakistani diplomat left after 15 minutes.

“There is a lull in the Pakistani Army’s firing since 1700 hours on Sunday in the Bimber Gali sector,” said a Defence Ministry spokesperson in Jammu.

The ceasefire violation from the Pakistani side began early morning on the Independence Day, when Pakistani troops began shelling in Hamirpur using 120 mm mortar, killing civilians and injuring many. Subsequently, firing with 82 mm mortars and automatic rifles started at the Poonch and Balakote sectors in Jammu and Kashmir as border villages were pounded.

Pak counters
When asked about the ceasefire violation, Basit said an effective mechanism was required to determine who is engaged in ceasefire violations. The Pakistani diplomat claimed that India violated ceasefire 70 times in recent months. “We are also concerned about the ceasefire violation and who is indulging in it,” Basit added.

The exchange of fire at the border happens a week before the National Security Advisor-level talks between the two neighbours in Delhi. The two NSAs – Ajit Doval and Sartaj Aziz – will hold talks on terrorism-related issues for the first time on August 23.

The NSA talk was the outcome of a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa in July. During the NSA talks, India may present more evidence of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which was highlighted by recent attacks in Gurdaspur in Punjab and near Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.

India has captured a Pakistani terrorist involved in the Udhampur attack. The terrorist Md Naved Yakub is a resident of Faisalabad district of Pakistan. Naved disclosed the identity of his slain accomplice as Md Nomen, a resident of Bhawalpur.

Six people were killed in the shelling by Pakistani troops at several Indian posts and civilian areas since the Independence Day. Five civilians were killed and five others injured on Saturday while a woman was killed on Sunday. It is the eighth day of continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan.