India Summons Pakistani Envoy Over Ceasefire Violation, Civilian Deaths

Since yesterday mortar shelling and heavy firing going on overnight in Hamirpur, Sujiyan, in Mandi sectors along LoC in Poonch.

The unprovoked firing from Pakistan rangers was retaliated by the Indian Army.

Rebels are fighting mainly for Kashmir to become part of Pakistan, not for independence, which most Kashmiris want.

3 civilians died on Saturday when the vehicle in which they were travelling was hit by a mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops in Balakote sector and exploded. The officials said that the firing from Pakistan is underway.

The injured civilians have been admitted to the Rajouri Hospital. “There have been close to 70 ceasefire violations from this side [Indian] of the LoC (Line of Control) and working boundary”, he said.

New Delhi claims six people, including a woman, were killed in recent firing by Pakistani forces in the Poonch sector.

The Ministry of External Affairs had on Sunday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and lodged a strong protest over continuous ceasefire violations at worldwide Border.

Calling for quick de-escalation of pressure alongside the borders in Jammu and Kashmir, Sayeed urged the political management of India and Pakistan to respect and uphold the ceasefire put in place throughout 2003.

Eleven villages in Jammu and Kashmir’s Balakote are being pounded by Pakistani mortar shells and guns for nearly 24 hours now.

A Pakistani official said two civilians were killed by Indian soldiers on the Pakistani side.

Top security officials of the two countries are scheduled to meet in the Indian capital from August 23 in what Pakistan last week described as “ice breaking” talks.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani side for its part raised the issue of the killing of 28-year-old-Fareeda, who is a resident of village Nadheri, succumbed on Tuesday and who was injured in the firing. “But in fact the firings have continued up until today”, the statement said.

India and Pakistan have for the past week been exchanging heavy intermittent fire nearly daily across their de facto border known as the Line of Control in the disputed territory.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday had greeted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Independence Day and hoped that bilateral issues would be settled through sustained and comprehensive talks.