UN calls for ‘maximum restraint’ by India, Pakistan along LoC

“Diplomatically, India has repeatedly emphasised, including at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control (LoC) and abide by the ceasefire commitment of 2003 along the global Border and LC”, he said.

Indian and Pakistani troops have traded gunfire and mortars in the disputed Kashmir region, killing at least eight civilians and injuring several others, according to news reports.

In the last two days, seven civilians – all Muslim residents of border villages – have been killed and over 30 others injured in Pakistani shelling along the LoC.

Early Sunday morning a woman succumbed to her injuries. 35-yr-previous Nussarat Begum died in the shelling in Behrote village in Balakote sector, the place two individuals have been injured, officers stated.

The Pakistan army on Monday evening indulged in heavy shelling and firing along the Line of control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said.

PRO defence, Jammu, Col Manish Mehta said today that “Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in Poonch sector and Balakote overnight and shelled forward posts and civilian areas with 120 mm and 82 mm mortar bombs”. Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit sought to blame Indian troops for the uptick in firing incidents in recent months.

“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.

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.

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who visited the injured at the hospital in Jammu today, said, “Pakistan does not understand the ground situation…”

The Pakistani Envoy has been summoned by Indian External Affairs Ministry against continuous ceasefire violations that took lives of six people.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir and both claim the territory in full.