Indian forces kill another two civilians in Harpal sector, toll reaches 10
Indian troops continue to target Pakistani posts on the seventh day.
SIALKOT (Web Desk) – Death toll of civilians from the Indian shelling over the past three days has reached 10 as nnother two civilians lost their lives in fresh firing by Indian forces at Harpal Sector along along the Working Boundary in Sialkot district of Punjab province, Dunya News reported on Wednesday.
The deceased belonged to Sukha Chak and Bajra Garhi villages.
Reportedly, Indian troops used sophisticated weapons including machine guns to target civilian settlements at Kotli, Battal, Goi and Tutta Pani areas of Nakial Sector.
Officials and witnesses say Indian shelling of mortars has caused damage to buildings and houses along the working boundary. They also said nearly 20,000 people have fled homes from the area.
The ongoing violence is one of the worst violations of a 2003 ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
While minor skirmishes have been somewhat common over the years, many were shocked that this week s fighting fell over the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Azha and left civilian casualties.
Pakistan s permanent UN envoy, Ambassador Masood Khan, expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of violations of the cease fire at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary by the Indian security forces.
Participating in a debate in General Assembly, Khan called upon the Indian government to immediately observe ceasefire and help preserve tranquillity, state radio reported today.
He said United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan must be enabled to play its role in monitoring the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also urged India and Pakistan to resolve their outstanding issues through negotiations,.Pakistan and India have fought three major wars since both countries gained independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over control of Kashmir.
The mountainous Kashmir region is divided between Pakistan and India but claimed in its entirety by both. Both countries had declared ceasefire in 2003 and the current escalations could pose a threat to the ceasefire.
