Amid escalating tensions, MEA summons Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah

The Pakistani envoy Syed Haider Shah has been asked to report at the South Block office.

New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday summoned Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner to protest against the alleged violation of the country's airspace by the Pakistani Air Force this morning.

News agency ANI confirmed that Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah was summoned by the MEA and asked to report to the South Block office. 

Delhi: Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah summoned by Ministry of External Affairs pic.twitter.com/sXnJQvhMpz — ANI (@ANI) 27 February 2019

The MEA action came after Pakistan summoned India's Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and condemned the alleged "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian security forces along the Line of Control which resulted in the killing of four civilians.

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal, who is also the Foreign Ministry spokesman, summoned Ahluwalia and "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control," the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.

The firing on February 26 in Nikial and Khuiratta sectors resulted in the killing of four civilians, including three women. The firing also injured six others, the FO said.

The Indian forces along the LoC and the Working boundary are "continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons", it said.

"This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violation," it alleged.

"The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," the statement said.

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 Working Boundary, the statement said.

He also said that the Indian side should permit UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the LoC. 

(With PTI Inputs)