New Delhi: India rejected Pakistan’s allegations about a UN vehicle being deliberately targeted by Indian troops on the Line of Control (LoC) and said such fabricated allegations were part of Islamabad’s efforts to cover up its failure to protect UN personnel.
Indian officials had rejected claims by the Pakistani military’s media arm and Foreign Office that a vehicle carrying two officers of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was “specifically targeted” by Indian troops from across the LoC.
Pakistani military spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar had tweeted photos of the UN vehicle with apparent damage to its windows and chassis, and contended the SUV was the target of “unprovoked fire” in Chirikot sector of the LoC.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: “Allegations by Pakistan regarding Indian forces deliberately targeting a UN vehicle on December 18, 2020 have been investigated in detail and found to be factually incorrect and false.
“Our forward troops were aware of the visit of UN military observers in the area and did not conduct any firing as alleged.”
Srivastava said that instead of repeating “baseless and fabricated allegations against India to cover up its own failure in ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel in territory under its control, Pakistan should responsibly investigate its lapses”.
He added that India has conveyed its findings and views on “these misrepresentations” to the Pakistani side.
Shortly before India made clear its position, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it had taken up the incident with the UN and asked it to “initiate a transparent investigation” into the matter. (Hindustan Times)
