Meanwhile, India summoned Pakistan’s envoy in New Delhi Sunday to protest against the weekend killing of at least half a dozen civilians in border firings, hiking tensions ahead of talks between the nuclear-armed rivals. After the meeting, Basit blamed India for the cross border firings and said the Pakistan government is concerned about it. “We are concerned about the ceasefire violations”.
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Indian army spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta, said Pakistani troops struck Indian positions in Balakote and Poonch sectors, located approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) southwest of the Indian-administered Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar.
“A protest was lodged against unprovoked ceasefire violations on August 15 to 16, by Indian troops at the Line of Control in Kotli Sector, which resulted in martyrdom of three civilians”, the Foreign Ministry said.
Indian troops also retaliated to the firing.
In the heavy mortar shelling, a woman identified as Nussarat Bi died in Behrote village in Balakote sector, a police officer said, adding that very heavy mortar shelling of 82 mm mortars is going on.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday greeted India on its 69th Independence Day and called for “good neighbourly relations” between the two countries. Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit sought to blame Indian troops for the uptick in firing incidents in recent months.
In the last two days, seven civilians – all Muslim residents of border villages – have been killed and over 30 others injured in Pakistani shelling along the LoC.
Sources said Pakistani troops also violated the ceasefire in the Manjakote sector along the LoC.
Continued shelling from the Pakistan side claimed the life of a woman was killed today in heavy mortar shelling from the Pakistani side for the eighth consecutive day. “Kashmir needs to be resolved as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people to end the violence in the region”, he said and urged India to shun its rigid approach and accept Kashmir as a disputed territory.
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The two have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, though the 2003 cease-fire has largely held despite small but regular firefights.
