ISLAMABAD/SIALKOT: At least eight people were killed on Friday in villages along the Working Boundary in the bloodiest ceasefire violations by India this year.

“Eight people have been killed due to ceasefire violation by Indian border forces, including a woman and a child. Meanwhile, 47 were injured including 24 women and 11 children, 10 of whom are critical,” a military spokesman said.

The latest round of shelling by Indian forces coincided with anniversary of 1965’s Operation Gibraltar that transitioned into a war between the two countries.

The shelling by India coincides with the 50th anniversary of Operation Gibraltar

According to witnesses, shelling from India obstructed rescue efforts because of which rescuers and local people faced difficulties in shifting the injured to hospitals.

Indian Border Security Force started shelling Pakistani villages in Harpal and Chaprar sectors at the Working Boundary late Thursday night (around 11.30pm) after Pakistan Rangers resisted use of an excavator by the Indian side near the boundary, which they found to be in violation of relevant agreements. The exchange of fire that ensued continued till 11.00am Friday and Pakistani villages of Kundunpur, Bajra Garhi and Thathi were the most affected.

Five of those killed in the shelling were from Kundunpur when Indian mortars hit their homes in the early hours of Friday.

Sialkot District Coordination Officer (DCO) Dr Asif Tufail said Indian BSF targeted the civilian population in the villages of Kundanpur, Kanganpur, Thathi Kalan, Thathi Khurd, Thathi Gujjaraan, Meenderwal, Umer­aanwali, Harpal, Khuraaney, Joyiaan, Bajra Grahi, Anula, Seelam, Harnaawali, Charwah, Dhabula, Chaprar, Saalehpur, Resmaan, Suhailpura and Beli Minhasaan and other settlements near the Working Boundary.

The Indian shelling damaged houses and killed and wounded livestock. It forced hundreds of people to flee from their villages to safe areas.

Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, who dashed to Sialkot after the incident, said Indians had “crossed all limits to terrorise Pakistan’s civilian population disregarding international conventions and norms”.

Decrying the attacks on civilian population as a “cowardly act”, the army chief said there was “definite linkage between terrorism being sponsored by India in various parts of Pakistan and belligerence along LoC and WB”.

India has violated ceasefire for 143 times over the past three months in which 24 people have been killed so far.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while denouncing the Indian attack, instructed foreign and defence ministries to take up the matter with Indian counterparts.

Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz asked the Indian side to stop these ceasefire violations forthwith and restore peace and tranquillity at the LoC and the Working Boundary.

STRONG PROTEST: Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan was summoned to the Foreign Office to receive Pakistan government’s protest from Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.

“Government of Pakistan strongly protested over the latest ceasefire violations by India. …. While condemning the Indian practice of targeting civilians on purpose, the Government of Pakistan expressed its deep concern at the continued hostility at the LoC and the Working Boundary,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

INDIAN CLAIM: Indian BSF, meanwhile, accused Pakistan Rangers of attacking civilian areas and border posts along the international boundary (the term used by Indians for Working Boundary).

A BSF spokesman told the Indian media that “Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing. Initially small arms were used but later on mortars bombs were shelled on BSF posts and civilian areas in R.S. Pura and Arnia sectors”.

Indians claim that three people were killed on their side due to Pakistani shelling.

The directors general of Pakistan Rangers and Indian BSF are to meet in Delhi from Sept 9. Ceasefire violations along the Working Boundary are the top agenda item for the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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