New Delhi: Pakistan, which has been the biggest supporter of the UN Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and has repeatedly called for its expansion and strengthening, failed to protect its key field offices in Skardu that were attacked and set on fire by pro-Iran protestors in the aftermath of the US-Israel strikes.
Reports from Gilgit said more than a dozen protesters were killed in violent clashes and the UNMOGIP office was set on fire after protestors stormed it on Sunday. Officials who are part of the mission are believed to have been evacuated and curfew imposed in the region following the attack. Additional troops have been deployed in the region.
The UN has expressed concern over the incident and said the safety of its personnel remains a top priority and that it is monitoring the situation. In contrast, protests in India, even in Kashmir, were mostly peaceful and while protesters did gather at UNMOGIP offices, there was no breach of security or threat to the premises.
Pakistan has been a big advocate of the UN group and has even called for its strengthening to 'monitor' the situation along the Line of Control. The Pakistani army regularly organises tours for officials posted at the mission to the border and is known in some cases to have carried out provocative firing in advance to evoke an Indian response.
On the other hand, India is clear that the UNMOGIP has outlived its relevance and mandate and is no longer relevant to the current situation. The mission was set up in 1949 to monitor the border in Jammu and Kashmir and India's stand is that since the Shimla Agreement of 1972, when the LoC was demarcated, its mandate no longer remains relevant.
Pakistan has been grappling with violent protests in the aftermath of the Iranian strikes and deaths have been reported throughout the country. The biggest incident took place in Karachi when armed protesters tried to swarm the US Consulate. In the resultant firing from US troops mandated to protect the premises, over 10 protesters were killed and several others injured.
Reports from Gilgit said more than a dozen protesters were killed in violent clashes and the UNMOGIP office was set on fire after protestors stormed it on Sunday. Officials who are part of the mission are believed to have been evacuated and curfew imposed in the region following the attack. Additional troops have been deployed in the region.
The UN has expressed concern over the incident and said the safety of its personnel remains a top priority and that it is monitoring the situation. In contrast, protests in India, even in Kashmir, were mostly peaceful and while protesters did gather at UNMOGIP offices, there was no breach of security or threat to the premises.
Pakistan has been a big advocate of the UN group and has even called for its strengthening to 'monitor' the situation along the Line of Control. The Pakistani army regularly organises tours for officials posted at the mission to the border and is known in some cases to have carried out provocative firing in advance to evoke an Indian response.
On the other hand, India is clear that the UNMOGIP has outlived its relevance and mandate and is no longer relevant to the current situation. The mission was set up in 1949 to monitor the border in Jammu and Kashmir and India's stand is that since the Shimla Agreement of 1972, when the LoC was demarcated, its mandate no longer remains relevant.
Pakistan has been grappling with violent protests in the aftermath of the Iranian strikes and deaths have been reported throughout the country. The biggest incident took place in Karachi when armed protesters tried to swarm the US Consulate. In the resultant firing from US troops mandated to protect the premises, over 10 protesters were killed and several others injured.
