Pakistan had alleged that Indian troops targetted UN observers, a claim the UN has rejected
Highlights
- Pakistan accuses India of targeting UN observers near LoC
- UN rejects Pakistan's claim, says "there is no evidence"
- UN group observes and reports ceasefire violations along LoC
The United Nations has dismissed Pakistan Army's claim that its military observers came under attack from Indian troops near the Line of Control, saying there was "no evidence" of them being targeted.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said there was no evidence that a UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) vehicle was targeted by the Indian Army along the LoC near the Khanjar sector.
"There is no evidence that the UNMOGIP military observers were targeted by the gunfire. No UN military observer was injured," he told reporters yesterday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, had said that a vehicle carrying two officers of the UN military observer group came under attack by Indian troops during a visit to the LoC.
The Pakistan Army had claimed UNMOGIP officers Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia were in the vehicle.
According to the UN Security Council mandate of 1971, UNMOGIP observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the LoC, 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.
The observer group is headed by Major Gen Per Lodin of Sweden. It currently has 38 military observers and 73 civilian personnel.