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Malik writes letter to FM Qureshi on Indian ceasefire violations, targeting civilian population

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Rehman Malik says Modi still in mood to act like Hollywood actor
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ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior and former Interior Minister Senator A. Rehman Malik on Friday wrote a letter to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi urging him to take the case of continuous unprovoked cease-fire violation and targeting of civilian population by India to the United Nations General Assembly and International Court of Justice (ICJ).

He has asked the Foreign Minister to request the United Nations Security Council to appoint a Special Commission to investigate all cease-fire violations by India, increase the strength of Military Observers across LoC and also file a claim of damages in terms of lives and properties in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against India.

Senator Rehman Malik has written the letter based on the Truce Agreement signed both by Pakistan, India and United Nations which bounds the two country to implement it in letter and spirit. he said that the Truce Agreement is actually a trilateral agreement as United Nations is signatory in it and both the countries continued to make agreement regarding Line of Control but did not change the contents of ‘Truce Agreement of 1949’ and it is still in vogue.

Read more: India resorted to war mongering and nuclear threats for short-term electoral

In the letter Senator A. Rehman Malik has advised Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as following:

i.          Proper investigation by UN Commission into the continuous unprovoked cease-fire violations and targeting of civilian population by India Armed Forces at Line of Control.

ii.          Imposing Penalties on Indian Government for violation of “Truce Agreement” which was supervised / countersigned by United.

iii.         Request for deployment of additional UN Military Observers at LoC to ensure an effective supervision to maintain proper control on the line of control as per the Truce Agreement of 1949.

 Senator A. Rehman Malik’s letter is reproduced here as following:

Subject:            FILING OF CASE IN INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ) FOR VIOLATIONS OF TRUCE / CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT OF 1949 BY INDIAN ARMED FORCES.

I would like to draw your kind attention towards the violations of the “Truce Agreement” duly signed by the two parties in 1949 and the agreement was supervised/ countersigned  by the United Nations Commission on India and Pakistan constituted  by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and in this agreement both countries have signed the following declarations:-

Para B: The delegation of India and Pakistan, duly authorized have reached the following agreement:

(1) “Under the provisions of Part I of the Resolution of 13 August 1948, and as a complement of the suspension of hostilities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir on 1 January 1949, a cease-fire line is established”.

Para F: ….There shall be no increase of forces or strengthening of defences in areas where no major adjustments are involved by the determination of the cease-fire line.

2.         In fact, this was the first formal ceasefire agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1949 and was the most elaborated and well thought agreement carried out and ratified on 27 July 1949. It drew the original Ceasefire Line (CFL) between the Indian Held Kashmir and Azad Kashmir. The original Cease Fire Line (CFL) was given the name of Line of Control (LoC) after the Simla Agreement in 1972, which was bilateral agreement whereas the bilateral agreement cannot overtake the international agreement / agreement under UNGA.

3.         As India and Pakistan entered into 1965 and 1971 wars and signed two new bilateral treaties (Tashkand declaration of 1966 and Simla Agreement of 1972), the  Truce agreement signed in 1949 is considered as dead / redundant by India, except for the boundary lines (LoC) between Azad Kashmir and the Indian held Kashmir. Later on a new cease-fire agreement was signed in November, 2003 but it was also not taken seriously by India and it continued unprovoked firing on LoC. Unfortunately, United Nations has failed to take any action against India for breaking the initial Truce agreement as well as other agreements.

4.         The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had reported in National Assembly that ‘unprovoked’ Indian firing across the LoC had cost 832 lives, 3000 severe injuries, and 3,300 houses had been damaged in Azad Kashmir till June, 2017. NDMA also informed the House that 425,000 citizens are continuously under the threat of Indian unprovoked firings at LoC.

5.         The plea by India to resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally without any third-party involvement / mediation seems to have withered away by India as India is reluctant to come on the table to discuss either the Kashmir issue or implementation of the Truce Agreement.  The Indian Government many times committed for a composite dialogue which also included on Kashmir but history is witness that India always avoided its commitments and it frustrated every move to resolve it in the past.

6.         The above reported damage of the lives and properties in Azad Kashmir due to unprovoked cease-fire violations by Indian Armed Forces and careful examination of the “Truce agreement” of 1949 entitles Pakistan to claim from India through United Nations or taking the mater to International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the following grounds:-

i.          Proper investigation by UN Commission into the continuous unprovoked cease-fire violations and targeting of civilian population by India Armed Forces at Line of Control.

ii.          Imposing Penalties on Indian Government for violation of “Truce Agreement” which was supervised / countersigned by United.

iii.         Request for deployment of additional UN Military Observers at LoC to ensure an effective supervision to maintain proper control on the line of control as per the Truce Agreement of 1949.

7.         In view of the above I call upon you to kindly consider to move on the above lines asking UNGA to ensure implementation of” Truce Agreement” of 1949, which is still a valid agreement whereas, Simla Agreement signed in 1972 is a bilateral agreement and hence it cannot overrule the trilateral “Truce Agreement” signed between India, Pakistan and United Nations. (With additional input from INP)

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Azadi March: Petition filed in LHC against JUI-F sit-in in Islamabad

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Leaves of Islamabad police cancelled ahead of JUI-F’s Azadi March
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LAHORE: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday against the upcoming sit-in and protests in Islamabad announced by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

The petition was submitted by Advocate Nadeem Sarwar in the high court, stating that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is willing to lodge sit-in in the federal capital to void the process of seminaries’ reformations.

It is stated that a government could not be ended before completing its tenure of five years in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan. The petition also stated that armed groups have been created by the JUI-F supremo in the name of security of the protests.

The petitioner sought the high court to order the authorities to stop Maulana Fazl from organising the sit-ins.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had given its observation that peaceful citizens could not be deprived of their right to protest, but the state may restrain a person from exercising this right on the grounds of national security.

The observation was given over a petition which also sought the court to issue orders to the authorities for stopping the JUI-F protestors showed willingness to lockdown the federal capital on October 27.

The IHC in its four-page written verdict on the pleas filed against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s Azadi March, said the constitution guarantees right of freedom of expression to its citizens.

The Islamabad High Court said holding peaceful protest was a constitutional right and that protesters must not violate the rights of other citizens.

It added that the organisers and participants of the protest had the obligation to remain peaceful, unarmed, and to comply with the law.

Disposing of the petitions, the court observed that it was the State’s responsibility to ensure the rights of all citizens.

The IHC had previously ordered the capital administration to earmark a place for holding of protests in Islamabad so that netizens won’t have to face any kind of hardship.

On Oct. 3, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced that the “Azadi March” will begin on October 27 after staging protest demonstration to express solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir.(Additional Input From INP)

Related: PPP will not participate in JUI-F’s anti-govt march: Spokesperson

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Women from North Waziristan attend Panel discussion marking Rural Women Day

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ISLAMABAD: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nation celebrated the World Food Day on October 16. As part of the celebrations, FAO, in collaboration with ILO and other stakeholders, celebrated the International Rural Women Day on 18th October at the NARC premises in Islamabad.

The theme for International Rural Women Day 2019 is Rural Women and Girls Building Climate Resilience. The unique gathering was the first time female beneficiaries of FAO projects travelled from North Waziristan to Islamabad, to attend a panel discussion on the role of rural women in agriculture. Members of National and Provincial Assembly, development sector, private non-profits, and the government sector also attended the event.

Two panel discussions were held, the first one talking about the role of rural women in agricultural production and how climate adoption in agriculture can improve their access to production, land and financial resources, and the second on challenges of climate change and role of rural women and girls in mitigating measures for rural development.

The panelists included FAO Representative in Pakistan Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi, human rights activist Veeru Kohli, Ms.Sameena Nazir president PODA, Mr. Massod ul Mulk CEO Sarhad Rural Support Programme, Ms. Sajida Hanif and Ms. Ayesha Bano both Members of the Provincial Assembly – KP, Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz Member National Assembly, and Ms. Rabia Razzaq senior program officer ILO.

The sessions ended with Q&A between the females from the newly merged Tribal Districts and the panel members, where they voiced their opinions on policies and programs related to them.

The Panel discussion brought to light the fact that climate change poses a great threat to poverty reduction and to achieving the SDGs in Pakistan; it impacts health, food security, nutrition, production, and people’s earnings.

Yet given their traditional roles in agricultural production, and as the procurers of water, cooking fuel, and other household resources, women are not only well suited to find solutions to prevent further degradation and adapt to the changing climate, they have a vested interest in doing so.

Given the fact that modelling of climate change scenarios for Pakistan show that if agriculture and water management continue along a ‘business as usual’ pathway, increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation will pose serious threats to the future livelihoods of farmers and to the Pakistani agricultural sector. This makes the role of Rural Women and Girls in building climate resilience more central and imperative.

It was discusses during that women and men both need to be educated in the role of women when it comes to building resilience to climate change, as well as sustainable market linkages in order to improve agricultural productivity.

Key note address was given by Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan, Chairman Board of Director Rural Support Network Program. Giving her closing remarks, FAO Representative Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi said: “Access to land, finance, and technology and its knowledge can help rural women become more resilient and contribute to the development of the agriculture sector in Pakistan.”

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Fawad Chaudhry for PPP’s defeat in Larkana by-polls

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Fawad Chaudhry for PPP’s defeat in Larkana by-polls
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, on Friday has urged that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership should not lodge ‘fake protests’ over its humiliating defeat in its stronghold Larkana city.

Fawad Chaudhry, in his tweets, said, “PPP’s leadership should cognise its serious mistakes as the people of Sindh want reforms in your governance style. It is not the time to protest but an opportunity to think about it.”

“If you say no to bringing reformations, than the outcomes in Sindh will be same just like you are witnessing in other parts of Pakistan.”

Following the defeat of Pakistan People’s Party candidate Jameel Ahmed Soomro, the political secretary of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PTI leader Ali Zaidi took to Twitter Wednesday saying, “Democracy is the best revenge, and today the people of Larkana have taken their revenge.”

It may be noted here that the joint candidate of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Moazzam Ali Khan Abbasi, had won the PS-11 Larkana II by-election held on Thursday (yesterday).

According to unofficial results, the joint candidate of GDA and PTI, Moazzam Ali Khan Abbasi, got 31,557 votes, whereas PPP’s candidate Jameel Ahmed Soomro secured 26,021 votes.

The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate had also been supported by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F).

The seat had fallen vacant after the Supreme Court declared the Grand Democratic Alliance’s (GDA) Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Moazim Ali Khan Abbasi over failing to declare his assets following a petition filed moved by PPP’s Nida Khuhro.

It is pertinent to mention here that the GDA leader had won the polls in the PS-11 Larkana-II constituency during 2018’s general elections after defeating the daughter of President PPP Sindh PPP Nisar Khuhro, Nida Khuhro, after her father was declared disqualified over the petition of Moazzam Ali Khan Abbasi that challenged his nomination papers. (Additional Input From INP)

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PM Imran inaugurates ‘Kamyab Jawan Program’

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday inaugurated “Kamyab Jawan Program” for the welfare of youth across the country.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Program, he said that Rs100 billion had been allocated for it, adding that the program would provide loans to youth for their business ventures.

“Youth are the future of Pakistan and our destiny depends on them. PTI government strongly believes in merit and transparency,” said PM Imran, adding that the Kamyab Jawan program is the program of merit.

PM Imran addressing youth

The premier said that only those nations move forward in the world that follows the rule of merit. He said the main reason for demise of Muslims in the world was the adoption of monarchy and not giving democratic rights to their society.

The Prime Minister urged the youth to read about the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as he is a role model for the whole world.

The Prime Minister congratulated all stakeholders for launching the first phase of the program for youth of the country.

Highlights of Kamyab Jawan Program:

The Kamyab Jawan Youth program comprises two categories: In the first category, the youth will be provided with loans from 100,000 to 500,000 rupees to start their business whilst in the second category, the youth will be provided with loans from 500,000 to five million rupees.

The youth are being provided with loans under three categories. It is anticipated that the program will benefit one million youth. 200 feasibilities have also been made available online to help assist the youth in working on business ideas.

A quota of 25 percent has been allocated for women to increase their share in the national economy. Kamyab Jawan program has been prepared under the National Youth Development Framework.

The program will help cope with unemployment and poverty. An integrated system has been developed for transparent and modern scrutiny of applications. Past governments neglected youth, says Usman Dar

Earlier, briefing media about the program in Islamabad, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said governments in past neglected youth of the country.

Dar said the youth of the country supported Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the 2018 General Elections, which helped us to form the government. “We are paying special attention to uplift youth of the country.”

Terming the establishment of the first Youth Council, as a step to autonomous the youth of the country, the SAPM said the council will represent the youth of the country at the international level. (With additional input from INP)

Read more: Economic stability govt’s top priority: PM Imran

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PML-N, PPP should resign from assemblies if want early polls: JI

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LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Senator Sirajul Haq has said that PML-N and PPP legislators should resign from assemblies if they want early elections in the country.

Talking to journalists after addressing “Mashaikh Conference” at JI headquarters Mansoora on Thursday, he said JUI-F had right to protest against the government and that it was now responsibility of Prime Minister Imran Khan to fulfill his words and provide container and food to the protestors planning to enter in Islamabad on Oct 31. He regretted the government and opposition lost interest in Kashmir.

Custodians from different shrines attended and addressed the conference proceedings on the agenda of unity of Muslim Ummah, protection of the faith on finality of the prophet-hood and Kashmir. 

Key speakers included JI Secretary General Ameerul Azim, JI AJK chapter head Dr Khalid Mahmood, Pir Syed Ghulam Rasool Awaisi, Pir Shahzad Chishti, Pir Naubahar Shah, Mian Maqsood Ahmad and others.

Addressing the event, JI chief said the government and opposition had set their own priorities, completely putting Kashmir cause on back burner. The rulers, he added, wanted to fight the case of Kashmir while sitting in air-conditioned halls of Islamabad without realizing the threat posing the RSS goons led Modi government to the country’s sovereignty.

He warned the rulers against designs of New Delhi which bent upon changing the demography of the region. He said the government should make pre-emptive strike to thwart the designs of enemy against Pakistan.

He demanded the government announce clear roadmap for the liberation of Kashmir from Indian yoke. He sought suggestions from the scholars and masharikh on Kashmir, asking them to play their role in creating awareness among the people on the important issue which was matter of life and death for Pakistan.

Ameerul Azim, speaking on occasion, highlighted the need for unity in Muslim world. He said western powers had long been unleashed an attack on Islamic ideology which could only be confronted if Muslim Ummah demonstrated unity among its ranks forgetting differences in the names of sects, regions and castes.

The JI Sec General expressed grave concern over the silence of the world on humanitarian crisis in the India held Kashmir. He said the time had approached that the Pakistan government took practical steps in support of the besieged brethren of IHK.

The conference vowed to defend with full force the every article and sub-article of the constitutional dealing with the Islamic ideology of the country, stating the laws were close to the heart of every Muslim.

Read: PPP will support JUI-F in sending this govt home: Bialwal

The participants expressed concern over the plight of Muslims in Palestine, occupied Kashmir, Syria, Iraq and Burma, stressing the need of unity among Muslim countries to address the problems facing the Ummah. 

The conference unanimously demanded of the government to take practical steps in support of the people of occupied Kashmir.

The conference called for ensuring free education till matriculation with the teachings of great Sufis of Islam make part of the education curriculum. The participants asked the government to take measure to ensure protection and safety of common man. (With additional input from INP)

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First Afghan Transit Cargo to reach Gwadar on Sunday

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ISLAMABAD: First Afghan transit cargo ship that contains 15,000 tons of chemical fertilizer will arrive at Gwadar deep sea port on Sunday.

It signaling that Gwadar port has set sail as the post competitive port in transit of Afghan Cargo, reports Gwadar Pro media network, quoting Zhang Baozhong, Chairman, China Overseas Port Holding Company(COPHC).

Ministry of Commerce, and Federal Bureau of Revenue have approved the clearance of Afghan Transit Cargo arriving at Gwadar International Terminal after the confirmation that the trade related infrastructure  at Gwadar port is ready to handle bulk cargoes to and from Afghanistan.

Hailed the approval as a milestone event that has been long expected for many years, Zhang Baozhong said  excitedly that, “It has been 18 years since Gwadar Port was constructed, and the day it wields its power in bringing economic benefits finally comes!”

Zhang hinted the first transit cargo that ships 15,000 tons of chemical fertilizer will arrive at Gwadar port on October 20, signaling Gwadar port has set sail as the most competitive port in transit of Afghan Cargo.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the bulk cargoes imported at Gwadar Port for onward transit to

Afghanistan will be transported in containers after stuffing/loading the same into containers of international specifications.

A team responsible for clearance of Afghan Transit cargo has also been established to fulfill the according duties, citing an office order by the FBR. A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs at a meeting held last week  acknowledged that Gwadar Port’s main competitors would be Singapore and Dubai ports, since incentives  such as no cargo demurrage charges and three months storage facility would surely divert business to Gwadar.

Official data showed that Pakistan is regaining its share in the Afghan transit trade as flow of cargoes rose 43.95 per cent to 93,732 containers in 2018-19 from 60,516 containers in the preceding year.

The assessed import value of the transit cargoes also grew a robust 54.88pc to $5.715 billion in 2018-19 from $3.97bn a year earlier.(Additional Input From INP)

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Govt to form committee for talks with JUI-F: FM Qureshi

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SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to form a committee under Defence Minister Pervez Khattak to hold talks with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while briefing media about the core committee meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that the meeting has decided to constitute a committee to hold dialogues with JUI-F.

“Defence Minister Pervez Khattak-led committee will hold negotiations with JUI-F to defuse political tension and restrain it from holding Azadi March,” he added.

FM Qureshi said that Pakistan was fighting Kashmir’s case at international forums and striving hard to address the economic issues.

“Pakistan will continue its diplomatic support for their cause and raise the matter on all relevant forums.”

“Kashmiris are looking towards Pakistan in this time of dire need. We should give a strong message to the world over Kashmir issue by showing unity,” he added.

The foreign minister said that the meeting has also decided to conduct local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab without delay.

“The first phase of local government elections will start from February 2020. The government wants to solve grass-root issues at grass root levels,” he continued. (With additional input from INP)

Read more: PPP will support JUI-F in sending this govt home: Bialwal

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Three more Kashmiris martyred as curfew enters 73rd day in IHK

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Lockdown enters 39th day in IOK
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SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, Indian troops martyred three Kashmiri youth in Islamabad district as military siege and communications lockdown in the Kashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu region entered 73rd successive day on Wednesday.

The youth were killed in a fake encounter by the India troops during cordon and search operations at Pazalpora area of the district.

Although the voice call service on post-paid mobile phones has partially been restored, yet the situation is far from normal.  Mobile internet and broadband as well as about two million phones using prepaid SIM cards continue to remain suspended.

Shops in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley usually open only for a couple of hours in the morning and evening to restock supplies, keeping shutters down during the day.

Public transport continues to remain mostly absent and only private vehicles and those with special permits can be seen on the roads. Offices remain almost empty and there are virtually no students in schools and colleges which reopened recently.

Many believe that the continued lockdown is due to popular anger at India’s Aug 5 unilateral action, comparing it to a campaign of civil disobedience.

Read more: Fact-finding report on occupied Kashmir reveals that locals are turning to peaceful civil disobedience

Observers say the mood in the valley continues to remain sullen and defiant, adding there is certain spontaneity with the way people have reacted. They maintain there is a lot of resentment, a sense of humiliation at the way things have been done and people have been completely disconnected from the world and each other as well.

A media report said that a number of new checkpoints have been installed in different areas of Srinagar where the forces are checking vehicles, adding many new bunkers have also been established in Srinagar city in the last few weeks. (With additional input from INP)

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FO summons Indian deputy high commissioner, lodges protest against LoC violations

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ISLAMABAD: Director General (SA & SAARC), Dr. Muhammad Faisal has summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Gaurav Ahluwalia again on Wednesday and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nezapir Sector on Tuesday.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by Indian Army in Nezapir Sector of LoC, three innocent civilians, Ghulam Qaider s/o Lal Din 55 years, Mariam Bibi 12 years and Haider Ali 10 years, residents of village Kirni, embraced shahadat, while eight others, including women and children, sustained serious injuries.

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and Working boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars, and automatic weapons, which still continues. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations.

The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.

Related: Pakistan condemns Indian defence minister’s ‘provocative’ statements

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

The Director General (SA & SAARC) urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire arrangement; investigate these 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 urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. (With additional input from INP)

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