NEW DELHI: Pakistan government on Tuesday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner to register a protest on “ceasefire violations” at the Line of Control and eight of its embassy staffers returned to India after their identities were released by Islamabad authorities.
Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Deputy Indian High Commissioner JP Singh and condemned the “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by the Indian forces, a charge refuted by the Indian official. Pakistan Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the unprovoked firing killed three civilians. Singh lodged a protest on behalf of India against Pakistan for violating ceasefire.
"The Director-General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, stop targeting the villages and civilians and maintain peace on the LoC," Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
India and Pakistan relations have settled in a predictable cycle of tit-for-tat actions. Guns are booming on the Indo-Pak border and the governments are summoning each other’s High Commission officials; while the number of diplomatic staff has been curtailed. India has asked its eight officials to return home after Pakistan revealed their identities accusing them of indulging in espionage and terror activities.
Three of the eight Indian officials are arriving via Dubai while the rest are going to come via Wagah border.
Pakistan has also recalled six officials after it alleged that their security was compromised after their names and photos were leaked to the media.