According to a statement released by the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian Army on 13th November opened fire “of all calibres, including along including Artillery and heavy mortars” along the Line of Control (LOC) in various sectors of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). The areas targeted included Neelum Valley, Jhelum Valley, and Bagh Valley. The attacks by the Indian army were indiscriminate and included civilian population, killing 4 and injuring 12 citizens of AJ&K. The ISPR terms this action “in utter disregard to all international obligations and human rights,” as it is in clear violation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement.
The Pakistan Army gave a “befitting reply” to the Indian Army and targeted the Indian posts that had launched the attacks on civilians. The Indian army is said to have suffered “substantial losses” as also reported within Indian media. However, ISPR claims that the true extent of the damages is not being reported in India. “Indian’s confirmed losses are much more than being acknowledged,” says ISPR.
In this counterattack, one Pakistani soldier embraced shahadat, while 5 sustained injuries.
ISPR dubs the attack by India along the LOC a “cowardly” and “provocative” act. According to the statement, this attack was launched to “ward off the humiliation” Indian Army had experienced on the night between 7th and 8th November in an encounter with Kashmiri freedom fighters in District Kupwara within Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where Indian forces suffered casualties of 4 soldiers.
The statement ended by noting that Pakistan is a peace loving country, but will always respond to provocations by India in a befitting manner. “We stand committed to defend the motherland and our Kashmiri brethren even at the cost of our blood and lives,” it said.
The full statement can be read below:
“ISPR
Rawalpindi, 13 November 2020
On night 7/8 November 2020, reportedly Indian Army had an encounter with few freedom fighters in District Kupwara, well within Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir territory, opposite Neelum valley, wherein it suffered few casualties including 4 soldiers. To ward off the humiliation faced by Indian Army in front of domestic audience, instead of finding the reasons from within and addressing the same, on 13 November 2020, Indian Army opted for resorting to unprovoked and indiscriminate fire of all calibers, including Artillery and heavy mortars, along LOC in various sectors of AJ&K. The targeted areas included Neelum Valley (Nekrun, Kel, Sharda, Dudhnial, Shahkot, Jura, Nauseri sectors), Leepa Valley (Danna, Mandal and Kayani secotrs), Jhelum Valley (Chham and Pandu secorts), and Bagh Valley (Pirkanthi, Sankh, Haji Pir, Bedori and Kailer sectors).
In this deliberate attempt, Indian Army did not limit itself to engagement of Army Posts / positions, rather, in utter disregard to all international obligations and human rights, targeted civil population resulting serious casualties to innocent civilians to include 4 x shaheed and 12 injured.
In response to this provocative act, Pakistan Army gave a befitting reply to the Indian Army, and effectively targeted those Indian posts which engaged innocent civilians. As a result, substantial losses, both in terms of men and material, have been incurred on to Indian troops which have also been accepted by Indian Media. Indian’s confirmed losses are much more than being acknowledged. In this valiant act, 1 x brave soldier of Pakistan Army embraced shahadat while 5 others got injured. Such cowardly acts of targeting innocent civilians reflect sheer lack of morality, utter un-professionalism, and total disregard to human rights by the Indian Army and are also clear violation of cease fire understanding of 2003.
It is once again reiterated, that Pakistan is a peace loving country and Pakistan Army pursue the same aspirations. However, we stand committed to defend the motherland and our Kashmiri brethren even at the cost of our blood and lives. We assure that all such provocative acts shall continue to be responded in the same coin.”
