UN refutes Pakistan's allegations, denies its observers were attacked by Indian Army on LoC

Refuting Pakistan's allegations, the United Nation (UN) has denied that its observers came under attack from the Indian Army along the LoC.

Pakistan Army had on Wednesday claimed that a vehicle carrying two officers of a UN military observer group came under attack by the Indian troops during a visit to the Line of Control (LoC).

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), military's media wing said the vehicle was carrying United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) officers Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia.

However, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that there was no evidence of an attack on UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). 

“This afternoon in Bhimber District in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, UNMOGIP military observers accompanied by Pakistani army escorts heard gunshots. There is no evidence that the UNMOGIP military observers were targeted by the gunfire. No UN military observer was injured,” Dujarric said.

On May 17, Pakistan Army had lodged a protest with the UN military observers against 'unprovoked' Indian firing on civilians from across the Line of Control.

According to the Security Council mandate of 1971, UNMOGIP observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the Line of Control and the working boundary between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as reports developments that could lead to ceasefire violations.

India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control (LoC).

(With agency inputs)