UN team visited villages along International Border, say Pakistan officials

Islamabad, Oct 15: A team of UN military observers has visited the villages along the International Border with India to get first-hand information on the situation, Pakistani officials said today.

The UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) team visited areas in Charwah, Chaprar and Pukhlian sectors on the International Border near Sialkot on Monday and Tuesday, the officials said. The visit was made after Pakistan on October 9 lodged a protest with the UNMOGIP over the alleged firing from across the border and requested the UN team to visit the areas.

According to officials, the UN observers met the villagers, witnessed and gathered a first-hand account of the damage caused to human lives and properties due to firing. The team also visited the Combined Military Hospital Sialkot and met injured civilians. Pakistan says at least 12 citizens have been killed and 64 injured due to firing.

Pakistan had earlier written to UN chief Ban ki-moon on the security situation along the LoC and the International Border with India and sought the world body's intervention in resolving the issue. However, the Un had snubbed Pakistan's request to intervene in the border issue and said India and Pakistan should solve the crisis through dialogues.

In a letter to UN chief Ban ki-moon, adviser to the Pakistan prime minister on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz accused India of "deliberate and unprovoked violations of the ceasefire agreement and cross-border firing" over the past weeks.

PTI