SIALKOT/Lahore -  Four more civilians were martyred and 11 others injured on Friday in unprovoked Indian shelling at civilian population along Sialkot border on the second consecutive day.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh, who was summoned by the Foreign Office to lodge protest against killing of two women in cross-border firing on Thursday, was called again on Friday and warned against the unabated border terrorism.

The areas that came under heavy mortar shelling by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) yesterday included dozens of villages in Sucheetgarh, Chaprar, Harpal, Bajra Garhi, Charwah and Zafarwal-Shakargarh Sectors of the Sialkot Working Boundary.

The shells hit houses in Merajkey and Charwah villages, killing Irfan Abdul Ghani (24), Rizwan Afzal (15), Waseem Akram and a retired Army man Rasheed (56).

The Punjab Rangers retaliated instantly and effectively, and gave a befitting reply to the enemy making the Indian guns fall silent, a spokesman of Pakistani border force said.

An unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India has been witnessed since 2017. The Indian forces committed more than 1900 border violations along the Working Boundary near Sialkot and the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, according to the foreign ministry.

In just 19 days of the New Year, 2018, Indian army and Border Security Force (BSF) have carried out more than 125 ceasefire violations along the Working Boundary and the LoC, resulting in the martyrdom of seven civilians and injuries to dozens others.

It appears the eastern neighbour is committing this gross violation of the right to life, the international laws and the bilateral ceasefire agreement as part of a policy.

This, in fact, was recently confirmed by Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat, who told the media that the Indian army will continue pressure on Kashmir border as part of their efforts to contain the freedom struggle in the occupied valley.

Diplomatic disapproval

Director General (SA & SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh Friday in Islamabad and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces, according to a foreign ministry statement.

It said the Indian forces “are continuously engaged in indiscriminate and unprovoked firing with heavy mortars and automatic weapons on the civilian-populated villages, since the last two days.”

Mr Singh was told that the deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas “is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation”.

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate the 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 also urged that the Indian side should permit UN monitors (UNMOGIP) to play their mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

Details of victims

Rescue 1122 Sialkot shifted those injured in Friday’s shelling to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Sialkot Cantt. The condition of four of them was stated to be critical.

The wounded included Samra Bibi(34), Naseem Abbas (14) and Qasim Raza (22) of Tangra village in Harpal Sector; and Rasheeda Bibi(50), Tauseela Asim (32), Adnan Ahmed Din and Naziran Bibi (60) of Charwah village.

Bajra Garhi village residents Muhammad Iqbal and Zakir Hussain (35); Meraajkey village resident Abdul Ghani (60); and Harnaawali village resident Shamim Bibi (40) were also wounded in the Indian firing and taken to hospital.

Senior officials of the Punjab Rangers said the Indians continued shelling the Sialkot border villages almost during the whole night between Thursday and Friday, and during the day on Friday.

Emergency measures

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Dr Farrukh Naveed told that the local administrations have declared emergency in both Sialkot and Narowal district.

He said that the dozens of the houses were badly damaged by the BSF shelling while dozens of cattle were also killed and injured by the Indian firing.

The people of affected border areas had started moving along with their cattle to Sialkot city and its surroundings, the DC added.

Dr Farrukh said the district administration has closed the entire private and government schools located in the border areas to minimise damage.

The DC also visited the CMH to inquire after the injured. He also visited the emergency relief centres established by the district administration and reviewed the relief services being provided to the shelling victims.

 

 

 

India keeps killing innocent Pakistanis