Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: As many as 10 people were killed and scores of others injured as the Indian Army resorted to unprovoked firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Kashmir on Wednesday, official sources said.

The Indian troops resorted to unprovoked shelling in Neelam valley, Bhimbher and Kotli Districts of Azad Kashmir.

Pakistan Army responded in a befitting manner and killed seven Indian soldiers, the officials said quoting the authorities concerned. Three Pakistani soldiers, including a captain, also embraced martyred. The martyrs include Captain Taimoor Ali Khan, Havaldar Mushtaq Hussain and Lance Naik Ghulam Hussain.

According to ISPR spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, the Indian troops targeted a passenger bus in Neelam Valley, killing 10 civilians and injuring nine others.

Indian soldiers also opened fire on an ambulance which was rushing the injured and bodies, the ISPR spokesman said.

He also said Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif held a special meeting at Corps Headquarters Rawalpindi on Wednesday to review the LoC situation in the wake of killing of 10 civilians due to Indian shelling on a passenger bus. The top general praised the troops for giving the most befitting response to the Indian forces.

AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir condemned the attack on the passenger bus in Neelam valley.

He appealed to the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to take notice of the killings.

Meanwhile, Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh was summoned to Foreign Office on the ceasefire violations by the Indian forces.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson, Pakistan lodged a strong protest over martyrdom of civilians and security personnel on the Line of Control. South Asia and SAARC Director General Muhammad Faisal said the deliberate targeting of civilians, villages, ambulances and the public transport is deplorable.

He further deplored the belligerent targeting of the ambulance which was rescuing the injured. He urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, stop targeting the villages and civilians and maintain peace on the LoC.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned in the unprovoked firing by Indian security forces on a passenger bus carrying civilians along LoC near Neelum valley.

According to a press release issued by the PM’s House, Nawaz said, “The valiant Jawans of Armed Forces who embraced Shahadat today are held in highest esteem. The whole nation will remember this sacrifice of our valiant Jawans who left no stone unturned while defending their beloved motherland.”

“Despite our exercise of maximum restraint in the wake of continuing naked Indian aggression along LoC resulting in the Martyrdom of innocent civilians including children and women, India has failed to comprehend the gravity of the situation,” he added.

The prime minister said no responsible state can permit targeting innocent civilians in general and ambulances carrying the injured in particular.

“In fact, India is trying to divert the attention of the international community from the grave human rights violations and atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir,” he added.

He said Pakistan will never abandon the Kashmiris and will continue to support them in their just and legitimate freedom struggle for their right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan’s armed forces have been giving befitting response to Indian aggression on the Line of Control (LoC).

“Our armed forces retaliated Indian forces firing along LoC in which seven Indian soldiers were killed. India have been facing big losses due to its aggression policies,” he talking to a private news channel said.

The minister said India was trying to divert attention of the world community and Indian people from its atrocities and barbarism on innocent Kashmiris in the occupied valley.