Pakistan Army targeting civilian population in Poonch

Basit was summoned by secretary (east) Anil Wadhwa, who “conveyed our anger at the unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops since August 8″, a media statement from the foreign ministry said. The Government of Pakistan has serious reservations on the efficiency of the Court in processing and disposal of cases regarding terrorism, especially those involving deaths of Pakistani citizens, it stated. On India’s Independence Day, five civilians, including a 10-year-old boy Moin Khan and Sarpanch of Basoni village were killed and 20 injured in the cross LoC shelling in Balakote sector of Poonch.

India said it returned fire against Pakistani positions, and heavy shelling was reported in the Balalkote and Poonch sectors.

Three individuals have been at the moment injured in ceasefire violations in Manjakot in Rajouri, they stated, including six individuals had died and 10 have been injured in the shelling and firing since yesterday.

“In the month of July and August, there have been 70 ceasefire violations from this side across from LoC and the working border“, Mr Basit had said.

The bitter rivals signed a border ceasefire agreement in 2003 which has largely held, but both report violations, frequently accusing each other of unprovoked firing across their border.

Eight consecutive days of shelling on the highly militarized Line of Control between India and Pakistan has left a combined eight civilians dead.

Pakistani troops targeted posts and civilian area with mortar shells, Rocket Projectile Grenades (RPGs) and Pika rounds triggering panic among the people living along LOC in Poonch.

Islamabad has lodged strong protest against Indian firing with the New Delhi and the United Nations.

“The High Commissioner of Pakistan was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday”. Heavy firing and shelling in Poonch Sector is continuing since midnight.

They said the Pakistan Army gave a befitting response to Indian aggression across the Line of Control.

On August 23, national security advisers from India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in New Delhi to discuss the situation.

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.