LoC Firing: Seven Killed This Side; Pak HC Summoned

There were ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Poonch, Sujiyan, Balakote, Hamirpur and Mandi sectors along the Line of Control in Poonch district for the eighth consecutive day.

While India claims there have been 192 instances of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the global border in Jammu and Kashmir till July 29 this year, Islamabad alleges that in the past two months, there have been 70 ceasefire violations from the Indian side.

India today summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and lodged a strong protest with him over the unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops across the border since August 8.

Basit was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi during which India conveyed its strong protest over the issue.

With a 10-year old boy succumbing to his injuries overnight, the toll in Pakistan shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district rose to five on Sunday.

“The issue of continued unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops since August 8 had been raised on several occasions at the DGMO (director-general of military operations) level”.

Three civilians died when the vehicle in which they were travelling was hit by a mortar shell fired by Pakistani troops in Balakote sector and exploded, a senior police officer said.

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.

The spokesman said Pakistan had violated the ceasefire during the night too. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire however remains in effect.

Five civilians have died since Saturday because of the indiscriminate shelling.

But it appeared to be business as usual at the offices of the two prime ministers who exchanged unusually warm Independence Day messages, with the two national security advisers to meet on August 23 in New Delhi.

Defence spokesman Manish Mehta told IANS in Jammu on Sunday evening that “Pakistan army has been resorting to unprovoked shelling on the LoC using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars and automatics in Poonch and Rajouri districts”.