India targets “school van” along the LoC

ISLAMABAD: South Asia/south Asian association for regional cooperation (SA/SAARC) director general (DG) Mohammad Faisal summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner J.P Singh on Thursday and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations (CFVs) by the Indian occupation forces along the line of control (LoC), “targeting a school van” on Thursday in Battal sector, which resulted in the martyrdom of van driver.

According to official statements, a female student riding the school van described a horrible scene as Indian occupation forces targeted her van. An inter services public relations (ISPR) statement called it a sheer violation of Geneva convention and the ceasefire understanding.

The Indian occupation forces ‘deliberately’ targeted the school van on Battal-Madharpur road, resulting in the martyrdom of Sarfaraz Ahmed, leaving the school children severely traumatised.

Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in CFVs.

In 2018, the Indian forces carried out more than 335 CFVs along the LoC and the working boundary (WB), resulting in the martyrdom of 14 innocent civilians and injuries to 65 others.

This unprecedented escalation in CFVs by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1,970 CFVs.

The “deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas” is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The CFVs by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation.

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the WB.

He urged that the Indian side to permit united nations military observer group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN security council resolutions.