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Diplomats Arrives at LoC to Visit Areas Hit by Indian Firing

ISLAMABAD: Diplomatic corps reached the Line of Control (LoC) to visit the sectors hit by the Indian unprovoked firing last week, and fact-check New Dehli’s claims regarding destructing three alleged terrorist camps in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 

The diplomatic corps visited Jura, Shahkot and Nousheri’s sectors on Tuesday, Radio Pakistan reported.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal was accompanying the diplomatic corps.

Senior journalists representing international media were also accompanying the diplomats, including ambassadors and high commissioners.

Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal took to Twitter and said: “The Indian side has not joined us in the visit to LoC neither have they provided coordinates of the alleged ‘launchpads’.”

“Claims by the Indian Army Chief remain just that ‘claims’,” he added.

In a tweet, military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor criticised India’s decision to refuse Pakistan’s invite, saying: “What good Indian High Commission is which can’t stand with its Army Chief? Indian High Commission staff didn’t have the moral courage to accompany fellow diplomats in Pakistan to LOC.”

On Sunday, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat claimed that his troops had “destroyed three terror camps” and inflicted heavy damage on the fourth one. It was alleged that the camps were in “Jura, Athmuqam and Kundalsahi sectors”.

Indian troops carried out heavy artillery strikes on civilian population in the wee hours of Sunday in Nauseri, Jura, and Shahkot sectors, leaving six civilians and a Pakistani soldier martyred in the unprovoked shelling, in addition to heavy damage to houses and other civilian properties.

Indian Deputy High Commissio­ner Gaurav Ahluwalia, who was summoned to the Foreign Office on Sunday to receive protest over the ceasefire violations, was asked to accompany the diplomats to the LoC and prove on the ground that terrorist infrastructure was hit.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor on Sunday also tweeted: “Indian High Commission. “Indian COAS’ statement claiming destruction of three alleged camps in AJK is disappointing as he holds a very responsible appointment. There are no camps let alone targeting those. Indian Embassy in Pakistan is welcome to take any foreign diplomat/media to ‘prove’ it on the ground.”

He further said: “The propensity of false claims by senior Indian military leadership especially since Pulwama incident is detrimental to peace in the region. Such false claims by Indian Army are being made to suit vested domestic interests. This is against professional military ethos.”

However, no response had been received from the Indian government so far.

Director General for South Asia Dr Mohammad Faisal in a tweet commenting on Indian silence on the offer said: “It indicates that they have no grounds to support false claim by their COAS. We expect them to respond soon.”

The Military spokesperson Gen Ghafoor also took a jab at the Indians with a tweet, reading: “Indians have no grounds to support false claim made by their COAS. If they don’t want to go they have the option to share claimed targeted locations with our foreign office. We will take foreign diplomats & media tomorrow on those given locations. Let all see facts on ground.”