PAKISTAN PROTESTS INDIAN VIOLATION OF KASHMIR LINE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000655 SIPDIS CONFIDENTIAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UN IN PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN PROTESTS INDIAN VIOLATION OF KASHMIR LINE OF CONTROL Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Pakistan has lodged an official complaint with the UN against India over an alleged breach of the Kashmir Line of Control (LoC) cease-fire. United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Deputy Military Observer Brigadier Alexander told DepPolCouns March 24 that Pakistan filed a complaint on March 23, following UNMOGIP inquiries into Pakistani and Indian press reports of firing over the LoC. ¶2. (C) Brigadier Alexander described the incident to DepPolCouns as "an exchange of fire at Uri." Pakistani press reported that the Indian defense spokesman claimed Pakistani troops had fired between 1,500 to 2,000 rounds at Indian posts in the Uri sector of the LoC on March 21. A reliable press reporter based in Muzafarrabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK),told us the incident took place on the night of March 21 - 22 at Chakothi (near Uri) starting at 2200 hours and lasting, intermittently, for five hours. ¶3. (C) Alexander said UNMOGIP would undertake an investigation based on Pakistan's complaint and forward its confidential findings to the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). He noted that there is currently more activity reported on both sides of the LoC than he has seen in the previous year. ¶4. (C) Pakistan civilian Administrative authorities for AJK based in Muzaffarabad stated they could not provide us with additional information on the incident. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for Kashmir Jazed told DepPolCouns March 26 that Pakistan "had not lodged a formal complaint (with the GOI) at the political level." He was unaware of the complaint filed with UNMOGIP, but confirmed what we had been told by MFA India Director Menzur: three Indian posts had fired on Pakistani posts; only small arms were used; there were no casualties. Jazed noted that Pakistan had declared a unilateral cease-fire in 2003 along the LoC as a confidence building measure meant to improve the quality of life of Kashmiris on both sides of the LoC. He repeated what we had heard from Menzur and Alexander -- that local commanders from both the Indian and Pakistani side had resolved the matter using the hotline designated for such purposes. PATTERSON