In the most recent ceasefire violations by the Indian forces on 14 Sep in Nikial and Jandrot Sectors of the LoC, a 40-year-old woman Fatima Bibi, resident of village Balakot, embraced martyrdom while seven others, including women sustained serious injuries. It stated that the Indian forces along the LoC and working boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-calibre mortars, and automatic weapons, which still continues. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India has been continuing since the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations, it added.
"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 Foreign Office further stated.
The director general (SA & SAARC) urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate these 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. He urged that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.