ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the United Nations to take notice of the frequent ceasefire violations by India on Line of Control (LoC).
Chairing a meeting on the deteriorating situation at LoC, the prime minister said deliberate escalation of tension at the LoC by Indian forces was a threat to regional peace and security. The meeting was held in the backdrop of the recent unprovoked Indian firing at LoC that resulted in the martyrdom of seven Pakistani soldiers in Bhimber.
Expressing profound grief and extending heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs, the prime minister said that Pakistan was exercising maximum restraint in the face of Indian violence, which should not be misunderstood as its weakness.
“Pakistan cannot be bullied by such tactics as we are fully capable of defending our soil against any belligerence,” he said. He emphasised that Pakistani armed forces did not initiate fire, however “would always respond in a befitting manner to any aggression”.
Nawaz termed the unprovoked firing incidents as “futile attempt of the Indian authorities to divert the world’s attention from their worst kind of atrocities against defenceless and innocent people of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir.
Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz briefed the prime minister on the situation at the LoC and the response of the government following the latest firing incidents. He also apprised the prime minister on the increased frequency of indiscriminate firing and shelling from the Indian side targeting civilian population.
The adviser said that the recent incidents of firing by the Indian forces had resulted in the martyrdom of 26 civilians and injuries to 107, including women and children, in complete violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and International law. Nawaz Sharif was also briefed on Pak-US relations in the backdrop of recently held presidential elections in the United States.
He said that Pakistan and the US enjoyed strong and strategic partnership spanning over a period of seven decades. “Pakistan looks forward to closely work with the newly elected government for realization of peace, security and prosperity in the region and beyond,” he said.
National Security Adviser Lt Gen (r) Nasir Khan Janjua, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and senior government officials attended the meeting.
