Published 14:18 IST, September 15th 2019
India raises concerns over Pak's 2050 ceasefire violations in 2019
India has raised concerns over Pak's 2050 ceasefire violations this year, killing 21 Indians, India has also asked Pak to follow 2003 ceasefire understanding
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday has raised concerns over the continuous ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army. The MEA said that Pakistan has resorted to a total of 2,050 unprovoked ceasefire violations this year, killing 21 Indians. The Ministry also mentioned that the Indian government has asked Pakistan to follow the 2003 ceasefire understanding and asked them to maintain peace along the Line of Control (LoC).
MEA statement on ceasefire violations
Speaking to ANI, the MEA said, "Highlighted our concerns at unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan, including in support of cross border terrorist infiltration and targeting of Indian civilians and border posts. This year, they resorted to over 2050 unprovoked ceasefire violations in which 21 Indians died." It also added that "We've repeatedly called upon Pak to ask its forces to adhere to 2003 ceasefire understanding and maintain peace and tranquility along LoC and the International border. Indian forces exercise maximum restraint and respond to unprovoked violations and attempts at cross border terrorist infiltration."
Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC
Despite numerous failed attempts, the Pakistan Army has repeatedly fired at Indian positions deployed along the LoC. The latest case of a ceasefire near the LoC occurred on Saturday. According to reports, the Pakistan Army fired towards the Indian posts along the LoC in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. However, Pakistan has been deliberately hitting at civilians living on the Indian side across the border during repeated ceasefire violations. As per reports, a civilian from the Silikote village of Uri sector was injured due to firing. Additional reports state that this was the third ceasefire violation in the past two hours on Saturday.
Pakistan Army's White Flag
On Saturday, Pakistan Army in their another resort to violating ceasefire by firing at Indian posts along the Line Of Control (LoC), and in retaliation the Indian Army shot down a soldier from the Pakistan Army. Subsequently, in a surprising move, the Pakistan Army came forward to retrieve the mortal remains of their fellow soldier, by waving a white flag.
Visuals that surfaced in the aftermath of the reported ceasefire show a Pakistani soldier making his way downhill with a 'White Flag', therefore symbolising their surrender. The soldier who was gunned down by the Indian Army after the unprovoked ceasefire violation from the Pakistani side was killed on a hill close to the LoC. After a brief standoff between the Armies of the two countries, one of the soldiers from the Pakistan Army came forward with a white flag to retrieve the body of his fallen partner.
(With inputs from ANI)
Updated 15:48 IST, September 15th 2019