21 Indians killed in 2,050 ceasefire violations in J&K, Centre tells Pak

Pakistan has committed more than 2,050 “unprovoked ceasefire violations” along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir this year, killing 21 Indians, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Sunday.

Kumar said India’s concerns on the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces have been conveyed to the neighbouring nation, said a PTI report.

“We have highlighted our concerns at unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces, including in support of cross-border terrorist infiltration, and targeting of Indian civilians and border posts by them,” Kumar said.

“We have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to ask its forces to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire understanding and maintain peace and tranquillity along the LOC and IB,” he said.

Kumar said Indian forces on the other hand have exercised maximum restraint to Pakistan’s unprovoked violations and attempts at cross-border terrorist infiltration.

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India’s concerns come at a time when Pakistan is trying to rally support for itself among world powers over the Kashmir issue ahead of the UN General Assembly on September 17, which will see a congregation of world leaders. In a recent rally in PoK, Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan said he will raise the Kashmir issue in the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.

While the Indian delegation to the UN is being led by Ajay Bisaria, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead the delegation from Islamabad.

Recently, India slammed Pakistan minister Qureshi who claimed of human rights violations and possible genocide in Jammu and Kashmir in India at the UN Human Rights Council. Calling Shah’s claims “concocted” India in its reply said, Pakistan “forgets that terrorism is the worst kind of human rights violation.”

Tensions which were brewing between both the countries following the death of at least 44 CRPF men in the Pulwama attack perpetrated by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, escalated when India abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Kashmir.

(With inputs from agencies)