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Islamabad: Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed Sunday night during cross-border firing across the Line of Control, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
“Seven soldiers embraced shahadat at the LoC in the Bhimber sector in a ceasefire violation by Indian troops late last night.”
Pakistani troops responded to ‘unprovoked’ Indian firing, and targeted Indian posts effectively, ISPR said.
Meanwhile Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria strongly condemned the “continuous unprovoked” firing in a tweet and added, “Pakistan Army responding in befitting manner. We salute our valiant soldiers who render ultimate sacrifices for national cause.”
Pakistan Army responding in befitting manner. We salute our valiant soldiers who render ultimate sacrifices for national cause
— M. Nafees Zakaria (@ForeignOfficePk) November 14, 2016
There was no immediate response to the allegations from Indian officials.
Pakistani authorities last week lodged protests with India as well as with the UN military observers over targeting of civilian populations as the civilian death toll from Indian shelling has risen to at least 26 in the past few weeks. Another 107 have been injured.
The Pakistani FO protested at least five times during the past five weeks over targeting of civilian populations.
India is heating up situation due to internal compulsions
In his response to the latest development along line of control, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that India had been heating the situation up along the LoC and Working Boundary due to internal compulsions, Radio Pakistan reported.
The defence minister said it was regrettable that certain extremist elements which had come into power in India could become a source of destruction not only for their own country but the whole region.
Asif urged the global community to take notice of “Indian provocations against Pakistan” as any escalation of tension between the two nuclear armed neighbours could prove catastrophic for the whole region.
He added that Pakistan is using diplomatic and international forums to highlight Indian ‘belligerence’.
Cross-border firing a new normal
Cross-border firing appears to have become a routine as tensions simmer between Pakistan and India following an alleged ‘surgical strike’, unrest in Kashmir and the Uri army base attack.
The Indian deputy high commissioner has been summoned to the Foreign Office several times in protest against ‘unprovoked’ Indian fire and loss of lives due to incidents of cross-border firing.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri army base attack last month. Hours after the attack occurred, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed Pakistan a ‘terrorist state’ and accused Pakistan of involvement.
The Uri attack occurred days before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was set to address the United Nations General Assembly regarding Indian human rights violations in held Kashmir.
Following the attack, India claimed it had conducted a cross-border ‘surgical strike’ against ‘launch pads of terror’ in Azad Jammu and Kashmir — a claim Pakistan has strongly rejected.
Pakistan maintains that India is attempting to divert the world’s attention away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.
Pakistan and India have, most recently, locked horns over Kashmir since Indian forces stepped up a crackdown against protesters after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by government forces in July-DAWN
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