ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Friday told the powerful permanent members of the United Nations that Indian aggression along the Line of Control (LoC) was a threat to regional peace.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry expressed the apprehension that Indian actions, which constituted a threat for the maintenance of peace and security, might lead to a strategic miscalculation, the foreign ministry said.

The secretary briefed the heads of missions of the permanent members of the UN Security Council - China, France, Russian Federation, the UK and the US - on the continuous unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces on the LoC and the Working Boundary, especially during the last two months.

Tensions have been high between the nuclear-armed neighbours since the Indian forces killed freedom fighter Burhan Wani in July.

Later, India claimed it had carried out “surgical strikes” on the Pakistani side of the LoC.

This was rejected by Pakistan but Islamabad blamed the Indian forces of violating the LoC by resorting to firing.

The tensions rose further when New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the Uri attack, which inflicted the heaviest toll on the Indian Army in a single incident in 14 years.

Nineteen soldiers were killed in the strike. Pakistan denied any link. Later India, launched a diplomatic drive to isolate Pakistan, and announced to boycott a regional summit hosted by Pakistan in November.  The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit was later postponed as other countries pulled out.

Last day Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to protest against the violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary.

Bambawale’s deputy JP Singh was also summoned a number of times in the past few days – and protest was lodged. Pakistan has maintained that the indiscriminate firing and shelling from the Indian side deliberately targeting villages and civilian populated areas, in the last two months, has resulted in the death of 26 civilians and injuries to 107, including women and children.

Both Pakistan and India claim Kashmir in full, but govern separate parts, and have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir.

Chaudhry expressed grave concern over the increased frequency and duration of indiscriminate firing and shelling from the Indian side, deliberately targeting villages and civilian populated areas.

The foreign secretary deplored the use of artillery in Shahkot and Jura sectors on the LoC, on November 9, 2016.

He stated that the use of such heavy weaponry was resorted to by the Indian side after a gap of 13 years.

Pakistan had been compelled to respond but with maximum restraint.  The Pakistan armed forces gave a befitting response, the foreign ministry statement said.

While emphasising the important role of the United Nations Military Observers Group, which had the mandate for maintaining peace and tranquillity at the LoC and the Working Boundary, the foreign secretary noted that Pakistan was fully cooperating and providing unfettered access to the UNMOGIP.

However, “India is not cooperative and limits their access.” During the briefing, the representative of the Military Operations Directorate made a detailed presentation on the existing situation at the LoC and the Working Boundary, said the statement.

In response, the heads of missions assured that they would convey Pakistan’s concern to their respective capitals.

They underscored the need for restraint, observance of ceasefire and dialogue to resolve issues, it added.

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