FM Qureshi writes to UN Secretary General over grave situation across LoC

Dunya News

FM Qureshi said that India is sabotaging the regional peace and violating human rights.

NEW YORK (Dunya News) - Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday wrote a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) António Guterres which was also conveyed to the members of the Security Council following an attack using cluster ammunition to target the civilian population across the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian Army.

FM Qureshi said that India in its war madness is not only sabotaging the regional peace but also committing gross violation of human rights along the LoC. "I urge the nations of the world to take strict notice of the ongoing situation in IOK and LOC”, he added.

Pakistan’s Ambassador at the UN expressed that letter talked about the alarming situation of the Kashmir, rights violation by the India and unprovoked firing across the LoC by Indian forces.

Lodhi tweeted that FM Qureshi’s letter to UNSG also expressed concern at reports that India is preparing ground to change status of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. “Pakistan has consistently opposed any move that could alter situation in IoK as it would violate Security Council resolutions,” she added.

Maleeha Lodhi further said that Pakistan opposes every move to change the status of Indian-occupied Kashmir. The global community and the UN should play their role for peace. 

Earlier, the Indian Army used cluster ammunition to target the civilian population across the Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in violation of the Geneva Convention and international law, according to a statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The Indian military, on the intervening night of July 30 and 31, targeted innocent citizens including women and children in Neelum Valley through artillery using cluster ammunition – resulting in the martyrdom of two civilians, including a boy, as per the statement.

Indian army deliberately used cluster bombs to target civilian population, resulting in the injuries of eleven other people, who sustained critical bullet wounds, according to military’s media wing.

"This is [a] violation of Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law," the ISPR stated, adding that the use of cluster ammunition is prohibited under the Convention on Cluster Ammunition because of its severe impact on non-combatants.

"This blatant Indian aggression against all international norms exposes true character of Indian Army and their moral standing," the statement read.

It added that it was time for the international community to take notice of "this Indian blatant violation of international laws" on use of cluster ammunition in targeting innocent citizens.

DG ISPR in a tweet said no weapon can suppress determination of Kashmiris to get their right of self determination.