Two civilians killed in Indian firing at Sialkot working boundary

At least two Pakistani civilians were killed and six others including women and children sustained injuries when Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) opened unprovoked firing and shelling in different sectors in Sialkot along the Line of Control (LoC), the ISPR reported on Tuesday. Fifteen villagers were injured in the incident. The injured were identified as Younas, Bisma, Bano, Sehrish and Yasir. He later succumbed to his injuries at the Combined Military Hospital. The Inter Services Public Relations said that the Indian forces targeted civilian settlements in Sukhial village near the Working Boundary.

Pakistani and Indian troops deployed along the Kashmir border often exchange fire, and Indian authorities reportedly said that this was the second ceasefire violation by Pakistan in less than 48 hours.

“The exchange of fire is continuing and has spread to R S Pura sector”, Rana said.

India’s defence minister told parliament recently that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire over 1,000 times since the agreement, while Pakistan regularly registers complaints of violations by India to a UN mission which monitors the border. The 2 South Asian nuclear-armed rivals have fought two wars over their competing claims to Kashmir. A 2003 cease-fire largely has held despite small, but regular, skirmishes.