Map of Kashmir Photo Credit: CIA/Wikipedia
Indian forces reportedly fired at a vehicle carrying UN military observers during their visit to the areas on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control in disputed Kashmir region.
According to a statement by Pakistan military’s media wing, “Indian troops committed unprovoked ceasefire violation.”
The Inter-Services Public Relations said the Indian troops “targeted UNMOGIP (UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan) vehicle along LOC in Khanjar sector.”
The two UNMOGIP officers, who escaped the incident, were named as Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia.
A UN Military Observer Group representative visits a hospital in Kotli, Pakistan Administered Kashmir 2016 Photo: ISPR, Pakistan
The incident came to light on Wednesday amid escalating tensions between Pakistani and Indian forces in the restive Kashmir region, which is a UN-designated disputed territory.
At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the world body confirmed that the military observers visiting areas along the Line of Control heard gun shots “in their visit vicinity,”
“There is no evidence that UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observers group in India and Pakistan) military observers were targeted by the gunfire”, Associate Spokesman Farhan Haq said in response to a question.
“This afternoon in Bhimber District, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, UNMOGIP military observers accompanied by Pakistani army escorts heard gun shots in their vicinity. There is no evidence that the UNMOGIP military observers were targeted by the gunfire. No UN military observer was injured,” he said.
The UN has long maintained its military observers for the area in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ultrantionalist government recently asked UNMOGIP to close its office in India.
The UNMOGIP continues to operate on the Pakistani side.
According to the ISPR, the UN officials were targeted despite the blue UN flag hoisted on the vehicle as per normal practice.
Pakistan had last week protested to the UN the ‘unprovoked’ Indian shelling on civilians along the Line of Control that divides Kashmir into two halves, which have been under Pakistani and Indian rules.
Indian army violated the ceasefire agreement on May 10, 13 and 16 as it used “small arms, automatic and heavy calibre weapons, heavy mortars (122 mm) and field artillery in Sabzkot, Baroh, Tandar, Khuiratta, Kot Koterra and Karela Sectors to target Pakistani villages.”
The fire killed a civilian and injured several others.
