India has lodged protest with Pakistan over the ceasefire violation in Akhnoor sector in Jammu on Wednesday in which one woman was killed.
According to government sources, India lodged the protest both in Islamabad as well as here. “Our High Commissioner in Islamabad raised the issue with the Pakistan Foreign Office and Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Delhi was also conveyed India’s concerns regarding ceasefire violation in which one woman was killed and some people injured,” they said on Thursday.
Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire twice on Wednesday, indulging in firing and mortar shelling in the Akhnoor sector. They targeted civilian areas with small-arms fire and shelling at Bhalwal Bharth, Malabela and Siderwan. A 42-year-old woman, identified as Poli Devi, lost her life in the firing.
Meanwhile, Pakistan on Wednesday also said that it has shot down an Indian “spy” drone which it alleged was being used for aerial photography near the Line of Control (LoC), a claim dismissed by India.
“We are disappointed at the developments which have taken place this morning… There was major ceasefire violation committed by Pakistani forces in Akhnoor sector which led to casualties in India. I spoke to the (Pak) foreign secretary this morning and again in the afternoon… The ceasefire violation has led to the death of a civilian woman in Akhnoor,” Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan said in Islamabad on Wednesday.
Raghavan was talking to reporters after Ifftar-dinner he hosted at a local hotel in Islamabad. A large number of politicians, members of business community, diplomats, religious personalities and media professionals were invited.
However, Raghavan refused to comment on reports that the Pakistan army had shot down an Indian “spy” drone near the LoC. “I have no information about this drone,” he said. To a question about the Kashmir “dispute” he said, India was never shy of talks over Kashmir as a part of the region is “under illegal occupation of Pakistan”.
“I am not sure what you mean by dispute, but I can tell you that we are deeply concerned about the part of Kashmir which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. We will pursue this matter with all the force at our command,” the envoy said.
He said that since Pakistan has illegally occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir, India has concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through it.
About voice samples of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, Raghavan said that the important thing is that agreement on it has been reached but the stage for it has not come as yet. “I am sure that stage will come when the high commission will be told how to proceed forward with the voice samples of Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi or others,” he said.
Responding to a query on fate of the composite dialogue, he said that it was important to look at the issues on which agreement has been reached between the two prime ministers rather than speculate on other matters.
He said that the two leaders had agreed that it was collective responsibility to take steps for regional development. Raghavan said that the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif has helped to reduce tensions.
PTI