Anil Wadhwa, Secretary, East in the External Affairs Ministry, conveyed to High Commissioner Abdul Basit India’s strong “protest” and “anger” against the “unprovoked firing” by Pakistani troops along the LoC.
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On Monday, the Pakistan Army violated ceasefire by opening firing on the LoC in Balakot sector of the Poonch district.
Tensions between India and Pakistan are high along the Line of Control, the de facto border which splits the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
A civilian was injured in an overnight ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers on the global Border in Jammu district.
Mehta blamed Pakistani troops for firing on Indian positions in the region and said Indian soldiers have responded to “this unprovoked firing”.
The two NSAs – Ajit Doval and Sartaj Aziz – will hold talks on terrorism-related issues for the first time on August 23. According to reports, this is the fifth ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the last 48 hours and the firing has created a havoc in the lives of the villagers.
Three civilians were injured today after Pakistan opened unprovoked fire in Poonch.
Indian police officer Danish Rana said six civilians have died in the Pakistani shelling over the past two days, and at least 17 others wounded. The UN chief also expressed serious concern about the recent escalation of violence along the Line of Control that resulted in a number of casualties.
Five civilians were killed in indiscriminate shelling by Pakistan in Balakote sector of the LoC on Saturday, India’s Independence Day.
This is in keeping with the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at their meeting at Ufa in Russian Federation last month.
The instances of ceasefire violations have peaked in the run up to the August 23-24 talks scheduled between the National Security Advisors.
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Three others were killed late Saturday when a mortar bomb fired from the Pakistani side hit their vehicle in the Balakote area of the sector, Indian officials have said.
