Ceasefire violations: Pak summons India's deputy high commissioner

Both sides have accused each other of violating the truce along the LoC and the international border against the backdrop of a sharp downturn in bilateral ties.

Pakistan on Friday summoned India’s deputy high commissioner in Islamabad to protest against civilian casualties in what it described as “unprovoked ceasefire violations” along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

This was the second time in as many days that deputy high commissioner JP Singh was called in to Pakistan’s foreign office over ceasefire violations along the LoC.

On Friday, Singh was summoned to the foreign office by Mohammad Faisal, director general (South Asia) to protest against the death of three civilians in the Nikial sector because of alleged “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by Indian forces, said a statement from the foreign ministry.

Pakistan said among those dead was a 13-year-old girl.

The Pakistan government “expressed its deep concern at the continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian security forces and the intentional targeting of innocent civilians”, the statement said.

Pakistan called on India to stop ceasefire violations and respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement to restore peace and tranquillity on the LoC and the International border.

Both sides have accused each other of violating the truce along the LoC and the international border against the backdrop of a sharp downturn in bilateral ties. India called off a meeting between the National Security Advisers of the two countries last month, after Pakistan insisted the Kashmir issue should be part of the talks.

The heads of the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers agreed, during a recent meeting in New Delhi, to come up with a mechanism for maintaining peace along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.