Tensions may continue to flare on IoK issue after cluster bomb revelation: Fawad Chaudhry

KARACHI: Talking exclusively to ARY News today (Saturday) the Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry slammed India on the use of cluster ‘toy’ bombs along the Line of Control (LoC).

The Minister said that the act was appalling and unacceptable, he also said that he feared an escalation in the long-standing conflict between the two countries gauging by the actions being taken by the Indian government at home and in occupied Kashmir.

Chaudhry also said that the Indian Prime Minister is visibly distraught after the Kashmir issue has been highlighted globally by the Prime Minister of Pakistan in his maiden and successful visit to the United States.

The President of the United States had claimed during a sitting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan to play mediator and arbitrator among the two countries to resolve the Kashmir issue amicably.

India has since been edgy over the statements on the matter and has increased aggression on the working boundary along with beefing up Indian Army presence in the Indian Occupied area of disputed Kashmir.

Cluster ‘toy’ bombs have been recovered from the Line of Control (LoC) which were put there for nefarious purposes which are being traced back to India, ARY News reported on Saturday.

According to details, the toy bombs were placed in the peripheries of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir area of Pakistan, near the working boundary of the two countries.

The bombs have thus far martyred a 4-year-old adolescent along with 2 others and left 11 injured in its wake.

The cluster bombs have been banned according to the United States (UN) Geneva convention of which India is a signatory.

The cluster toy bomb is shaped like a harmless toy and can be devastating after detonating, exploding into million shards of razor-sharp blades which pierce through whatever comes in the range of the blast.

The bombs are primarily targeted towards the children who take them home with them unbeknownst to the havoc they could wreak.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Armed forces revealed that the said explosive device had been used on July 30 and 31 against the people residing on the Pakistan side of disputed Kashmir to target the civilian population.

Reacting to the beefed-up ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) by India, the Pakistan Army said on Wednesday, July 31 that it will take all measures to protect innocent civilians from Indian firing.

The military’s spokesperson, Major General Asif Ghafoor, said on Twitter that, “Increased Indian Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) indicate their frustration due to failure in IOJ&K [Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir].”

Increased Indian Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) indicate their frustration due to failure in IOJ&K. CFVs are being & shall always be effectively responded. Pak Army shall take all measures to protect innocent civilians along LOC from Indian firing deliberately targeting them.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) July 31, 2019

“CFVs are being & shall always be effectively responded. Pak Army shall take all measures to protect innocent civilians along LOC from Indian firing deliberately targeting them,” the Director-General of Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) tweeted.

A day earlier, the ISPR reported that Indian troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in Danna, Dhddnial, Jura, Lipa, Sharda, and Shahkot Sectors, targeting civil population.

The statement added that a 26-year-old Pakistani citizen was martyred and nine other citizens including women and children sustained injuries.

Moreover, three Indian soldiers were reportedly killed and several injured in retaliatory fire by Pakistan Army forces across the LoC, ISPR said.

In this regard, the Foreign Office also lodged a strong protest earlier today with the Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia.