LoC violations: Pakistan writes letter to UNSG Ban Ki-moon

According to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, on Saturday addressed a letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations.

"Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz, yesterday, addressed a letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on the security situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and the Working Boundary between Pakistan and India, owing to deliberate and unprovoked violations of the ceasefire agreement and cross-border firing by the Indian forces over the past weeks. The letter also underlines the need to resolve the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, and recalls the role and responsibility of the United Nations and the international community in that regard," read a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.


In his letter Aziz said: "I write to bring to your urgent attention the deteriorating security situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as along the working boundary between Pakistan and India, owing to deliberate and unprovoked violations of the ceasefire agreement and cross-border firing by the Indian forces over the past weeks."

"India has now escalated the situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and the Working Boundary. Persistent shelling and firing by Indian forces has resulted in heavy civilian casualties on the Pakistan side. During the period 1-10 October, 2014, 20 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and 22 violations along the Working Boundary were reported, resulting in 12 civilian casualties, 52 injured civilians and 9 injured military personnel on the Pakistani side.  From June to August 2014, there were 99 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and 32 along the Working Boundary. In all, during 2014, 174 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and 60 along the Working Boundary have been reported," he wrote.

"While exercising its right to self-defence, Pakistan has exercised utmost restraint and responsibility in responding to these provocations. The Government of Pakistan sincerely hopes that better sense would prevail on the Indian side to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control," he said.

The security forces of the two neighbouring nations have exchanged fire along the International Border or IB in Jammu and Kashmir's Arnia Sector since Saturday night, reports said.