ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Friday summoned a senior India diplomat to lodge a protest over the violations along the Line of Control.

“Director General South Asia Dr Mohammed Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and “condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces on  December 7 by the Indian forces in Chirikot Sector, Chaffar Village while a funeral prayer was being offered, resulting in the deaths of two civilians (Shaukat and Iqbal resident of Chaffar village), and injuries to four others,” said a foreign ministry statement.

The statement said: “Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations. In 2017 to date, Indian forces have carried out more than 1300 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, resulting in the deaths of 54 innocent civilians and injuries to 174 others, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016.”

The deliberate targeting of civilians, now even at funerals, is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws, it said.

The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation, the statement said.

The director general urged India to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.

He said the Indian side should permit UN observers to play their mandated role as per the Security Council resolutions.

PAKISTAN COMMITTED TO

SAARC OBJECTIVES: TEHMINA

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Friday said Pakistan was committed to the objectives of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Speaking at a reception by Ministry of Foreign Affairs here to celebrate the 33rd SAARC Charter Day, she said Pakistan was one of the founding members of the SAARC.

“Pakistan is committed to its goals towards regional stability. Serious efforts are needed to realise the objectives of the Saarc Charter,” she said. The foreign secretary said the SAARC region was bestowed with immense natural resources and manpower that could be exploited for welfare of the people through collaborative efforts.

The event was attended by the high commissioners, ambassadors and diplomats from the SAARC-member countries and observer states, representatives of the SAARC bodies based in Islamabad and officials from various federal ministries as well as journalists and media persons. Pakistan, which has hosted the 4th and 12th SAARC summits in 1988 and 2004 respectively, will be hosting the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad, it said.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims Prince Karim Aga Khan arrived on a state visit at the invitation of the Government of Pakistan.

The Aga Khan was received by Khawaja Asif, Foreign Minister of Pakistan, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division, at the airport, said a foreign ministry statement.

The Aga Khan is accompanied by his daughter. The Aga Khan has made significant contributions towards promoting tolerance, humanity and peace among all peoples.

His singular contribution to promote Islamic art and literature is greatly appreciated.

The foreign minister welcomed the Aga Khan to Pakistan and felicitated him on the completion of 60 years of his Imamat (leadership).

The foreign minister appreciated his vision of promoting peace and interfaith harmony among Muslims and his role for the socio-economic development of economically-disadvantaged communities in Pakistan and across the world. The Aga Khan thanked the foreign minister and conveyed his continued support to the government and people of Pakistan in economic and social development.

Prince Karim Aga Khan, the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, is the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.

The Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan, in 1957 at the age of 20.

Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan was an important member of the Pakistan Movement and a close confidant of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah.