Deccan Chronicle

Over 2K Pak violations at LoC killed 21 jawans

MEA says deaths occured in unprovoked conflicts in 2019

- DC CORRESPOND­ENT

India on Sunday conveyed its concerns to Pakistan on ceasefire violations by the Pakistani military, with the MEA saying Islamabad this year “resorted to more than 2050 unprovoked ceasefire violations in which 21 Indians have died.”

In a statement, the MEA said, “We have highlighte­d our concerns at unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces, including in support of crossborde­r terrorist infiltrati­on and targeting of Indian civilians and border posts by them.

This year, they have resorted to more than 2050 unprovoked ceasefire violations in which 21 Indians have died. We have repeatedly called upon Pakistan to ask its forces to adhere to 2003 ceasefire understand­ing and maintain peace and tranquilli­ty along the Line of Control and Internatio­nal Border (IB). Indian forces exercise maximum restraint and respond to unprovoked violations and attempts at cross border terrorist infiltrati­on.”

Tensions have further spiked between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with Pakistan mounting a shrill campaign against New Delhi globally after the abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcatio­n of Jammu & Kashmir into two union territorie­s early last month.

Government sources said Pakistan appears to be banking on a twopronged strategy to continue to raise the decibel levels of its campaign at global fora besides trying its best to push in terrorists across the LoC to attack Indian troops and to attempt to carry out terror strikes to draw global attention and grab publicity.

 ?? PTI ?? Journalist­s wait for their turn to access the internet at a temporary media centre set up by the government in Srinagar on Sunday. —
PTI Journalist­s wait for their turn to access the internet at a temporary media centre set up by the government in Srinagar on Sunday. —

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