21 Indians Killed In More Than 2,050 Ceasefire Violations By Pakistan This Year: MEA

The MEA spokesperson said that India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire understanding and maintain peace and tranquility along the Line of Control and the International Border.

Amid the reports that Pakistan was moving additional forces to the border with India, a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday said that the Pakistani Army has resorted to more than 2,050 unprovoked ceasefire violations this year in which 21 Indians have been killed. (PTI)

New Delhi: Amid the reports that Pakistan was moving additional forces to the border with India, a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday said that the Pakistani Army has resorted to more than 2,050 unprovoked ceasefire violations this year in which 21 Indians have been killed. The MEA spokesperson said that India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire understanding and maintain peace and tranquility along the Line of Control and the International Border. Indian forces exercise maximum restraint and respond to unprovoked violations and attempts at cross border terrorist infiltration, he said. "We have highlighted our concerns at unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan forces, including in support of cross border terrorist infiltration, and targeting of Indian civilians and border posts by them," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "This year they have resorted to more than 2,050 unprovoked ceasefire violations in which 21 Indians died," he added. The statement comes two days after the Pakistan Army retrieved the bodies of two of its Punjabi soldiers killed by the Indian Army at the LoC after raising the white flag. The bodies were retrieved by Pakistan on September 13 following two days of unsuccessful attempts. An Army official said all attempts by Pakistan to take the bodies by force had been foiled. Also Watch | Pakistani soldiers retrieve bodies of their killed personnel after showing white flag However, the bodies of five Border Action Team (BAT) Special Services Group commandos killed during an infiltration attempt in the last week of July in the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir, still lie unclaimed by Pakistan. On Saturday, the Commander of Army's Northern Command, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, reviewed security preparedness along the LoC in the light of military threat from Pakistan. Earlier, Army chief General Bipin Rawat had also visited the valley to review India's preparedness at the LoC. In the first week of September, Pakistan moved a brigade-sized force to a location 30km away from the LoC within its own territory as was reported by the Army quoting intel sources. (with inputs from agencies)