Observers from UN escape 'targeted' Indian attack.

MUZAFFARABAD -- In yet another brazen act of ceasefire violation, Indian army on Friday morning 'deliberately' fired upon a United Nations (UN) vehicle carrying two military observers on a routine monitoring mission along the restive Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), officials said.

Fortunately, they added, no member of the observers group was hurt but the white vehicle hoisting the blue UN flag was damaged in the 'targeted' attack.

The 'reprehensible act' prompted strong condemnation by Pakistan, with Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri describing it as an indication of a 'new low' in the conduct of Indian occupation troops.

The United Nations observers were on their way to Polas village of AJK's Abbaspur area to interact with the victims of unrelenting ceasefire violations by the Indian army when the vehicle with UN insignia came under fire from across the LoC at around 10.45am, the officials said.

The Polas and Chaffar villages of Abbaspur have suffered huge losses due to unprovoked Indian shelling in the past. Only last Sunday, a woman and a man in the villages were wounded when Indian troops opened fire.

'Such illegal and unlawful acts, against all established international norms, signify the mal-intent of Indian Army to target not only innocent civilians residing along the Line of Control but UN peacekeepers as well. This act only goes to show Indian Army's complete disregard to principles enshrined in [the] UN Charter. It is indeed a new low for Indian Army,' said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Major General Babar Iftikhar while expressing solidarity with the UN observers.

'Pakistan Army stands in solidarity with the UNMOGIP officials and appreciates the selfless services rendered by all members of UNMOGIP in discharge of their UN mandated duties,' he tweeted.

The ISPR chief while giving details of the incident said the UN vehicle was carrying two members of the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) towards Polas village where they had to interact with the victims of ceasefire violations by the Indian army.

At 10:45am, the Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing during which they deliberately 'targeted' the UN vehicle, even though these white vehicles, hoisting blue UN flags, are clearly recognizable from long distances due to their distinct make and type and clearly visible markings, he said.

While the vehicle was damaged, the two observers luckily remained...