LoC flare-up: India says ‘deplorable’ that Pak chose Diwali to disrupt peace in JK

New Delhi: Terming shelling in border areas of Jammu & Kashmir from Pakistan on Friday this week “unprovoked ceasefire violation” which left five troopers and six civilians dead, India on Saturday said it was “highly deplorable” that Islamabad chose a festive occasion to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement, said the “Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan High Commission was summoned by MEA and a strong protest was lodged” over the incident. “India condemns, in strongest terms, the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by Pakistani forces. It is highly deplorable that Pakistan chose a festive occasion in India to disrupt peace and perpetrate violence in Jammu and Kashmir through coordinated firing along the length of the LoC,” the MEA stated.
New Delhi also strongly protested Pakistan’s continued support to cross border infiltration into India. The MEA said Pakistan was reminded of its bilateral commitment to not allow any territory under its control to be used for militancy against India. On Friday, a day ahead of Diwali, 11 persons, including four soldiers and a BSF man, died in “unprovoked ceasefire violation” by Pakistan, officials said.
The Army had said in a statement that “Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC spread across multiple sectors to include Dawar, Keran, Uri and Naugam”, and used “mortars and other weapons”. “Pakistan deliberately targeted civilian areas,” it said.