United Nations military observers are probing January 6 killing of Pakistani soldier allegedly by Indian soldiers during a cross-border raid along Line of Control (LoC) in Indian Kashmir while India has not filed any complaint with the world body over beheading of its soldiers allegedly by Pakistani soldiers.
New Delhi, Jan 10/Nationalturk- United Nations military observers are probing January 6 killing of Pakistani soldier allegedly by Indian soldiers during a cross-border raid along Line of Control (LoC), defacto border between India and Pakistan in Indian administered Kashmir.
“The UN military observer group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has received an official complaint from the Pakistan Army regarding January 6 ceasefire violation of LoC and killing of Pakistani soldier allegedly by Indian army men,” Martin Nesirky, spokesman for secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told press briefing at New York last evening.
Pakistan army had accused Indian soldiers of violating LoC ceasefire, which is in force since November 2003, and carrying out a raid on Pakistan picket in Hajipir sector on January 6. It had said that two of his soldiers were injured in the Indian army attack and one of them later succumbed to injuries. However, Indian army had denied its involvement and claimed that no such incident had taken place.
Nesirky said UNMOGIP observers are investigating the incident. “It was decided to conduct probe into the ceasefire violations on LoC in Indian Kashmir after it received an official complaint from the Pakistan Army”.
He said the investigations will be conducted in accordance with UNMOGIP mandate.
UN observers stationed in Kashmir since 1949
UNMOGIP observers have been stationed in Indian administered Kashmir and Pakistan since 1949 and supervise the ceasefire between the two countries. Currently there are 39 military observers in Kashmir, 25 international civilian personnel and 48 local civilian staff.
Kashmir has been cause of two of three wars fought by India and Pakistan after gaining their independence from Britain in August 1947.
When asked about January 8 incident in which Pakistan army allegedly crossed LoC in Poonch sector of Indian administered Kashmir and beheaded two Indian soldiers, UN spokesman said, “No official complaint has been received either from Pakistan Army or Indian Army regarding the incident”.
He said UNMOGIP is aware that the armies of India and Pakistan are in contact via the hotline and urges both sides to respect the cease fire and de-escalate tensions through dialogue.
Indian army had accused Pakistani soldiers of crossing LoC on Tuesday evening (January 8) and beheading two of its soldiers – Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Lance Naik Hemraj. It has alleged that Pakistani soldiers carried head of one of the soldiers alongwith them.
Indian army, Indian Defence Minister and Indian External Affairs Minister had termed beheading of Indian soldiers allegedly by Pakistani soldiers as “highly provocative” and asked Pakistan to probe the brutal assault and mutilation of bodies of its soldiers.
However, Pakistan army and Pakistan government have rejected Indian charge and said that it verified the fact and no such incident had taken place.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar also denied involvement of country’s army and said Pakistan was prepared for UN investigation on the ceasefire violations.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News
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