Islamabad - KUNA
Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs on Friday addressed a letter to the Indian Foreign Minister to lodge protest over the killing of two soldiers of the Punjab Rangers in Zafarwal Sector, said Foreign Office.
The Adviser, condemning the action of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), strongly protested the Indian government action, and calling for an immediate investigation into the incident and bringing the perpetrators to account, a foreign office statement said.
The Foreign Secretary handed over the Adviser's letter to the Indian High Commissioner.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian BSF troops invited the personnel of the Punjab Rangers for a flag meeting. BSF forces reportedly opened fire at the Rangers, causing severe injuries to two soldiers. The unabated Indian firing denied timely medical attention to the wounded soldiers, who succumbed to their injuries and embraced martyrdom.
The letter underlined that the regrettable ambush of the soldiers would undermine mechanisms established by the two countries to ensure peace and tranquility along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary (WB), said Foreign Office.
Expressing concern at the way the incident had taken place, the Foreign Secretary underlined that the incident was not only in contravention to the rules of engagement, but also amounted to breach of trust of Pakistani soldiers in these mechanisms.
The Foreign Secretary also impressed upon the Indian High Commissioner that it was not in Pakistan's interest to ratchet up tension on the LoC and WB, since our law enforcement agencies and armed forces were fully engaged in combating terrorism and militancy across the country.
Keeping in view the seriousness of the incident, the Foreign Secretary also briefed the Heads of the Missions of P-5 countries and the EU in Islamabad and emphasized the importance of maintaining ceasefire on the LoC and WB. He stressed the urgency of the international community playing its role in counseling India to refrain from actions that threaten peace and stability in the region, the release added.