India violates ceasefire along the border first time since two countries agreed to restore the truce
India on May 3 violated the ceasefire along the Pakistan-India Working Boundary, the first time since the two countries agreed to restore the truce on February 25, Pakistan Foreign Office confirmed.
The foreign ministry termed it “first serious and grave violation of Directors General Military Operation (DGMOs) understanding in 2021” by the Indian side.
Pakistan recorded serious concerns
Pakistan government has expressed serious concern over the “deliberate crossing of Working Boundary on May 3 at 0556 hours” by Indian troops and lodged strong protest with India over its forces crossing over Charwa Sector of Sialkot and resorting to unprovoked firing, foriegn office spokesperson Zahid Hafiz Chaudhri said.
“The Indian BSF troops displayed aggressive behavior by crossing the Working Boundary and blatantly using mortars with an intent to sabotage the peace along Line of Control and Working Boundary,” the foreign affairs ministry said in a note verbale addressed to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Indian Charge d’Affaires was called to the Foreign Office to lodge a protest against the violation and the Indian High Commission was asked to “approach relevant authorities in India to take note of Indian BSF’s casual attitude towards the implementation of DGMOs understanding of 2021.”
Violation by Indian troops
The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) post troops in “Square-9530 located in IIOJK Jammu Sector opposite Pakistani Charwa Sector fired approximately 30 rounds of the small arms and four bombs of 60-millimeter mortar at Pakistani post in Square-9630 without any provocation. The incident happened when 15 BSF troops with three tractors crossed Working Boundary and started ploughing on the Pakistani side” Pakistani officials said.
“When Pakistani Rangers Punjab troops tried to persuade BSF troops to return through loud hailers and whistles, Indian BSF troops responded by firing small arms and mortars at Pakistani post without any provocation. The same BSF post took sniper shot at Pakistani post with the aim to score casualty” it was reported.
To prevent the situation from deteriorating, Pakistan reiterated its proposal for holding a sector commander-level border flag meeting between Pakistan Rangers and Indian BSF along the Working Boundary at the earliest to resolve border issues and ensure durability of DGMOs understanding.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have relatively eased along the LoC after the two countries decided to honor the 2003 ceasefire understanding in February 2021.