PHOTO: AFP
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry summoned Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan and protested against the unprovoked firing from the Indian side of the border at Harpal and Chaprar that left six civilians dead and 47 injured including 22 women.
A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read that three villages came under Indian shelling, including Kundunpur, Bajra Garhi and Thati . The Indian aggression left many houses damaged.
Read: Army chief slams India's 'cowardly' ceasefire violations
“Firing by the Indian side started at around 11:30 pm last night, when Pakistani troops confronted India for using an excavator, near the Working Boundary without following the established SOPs. Pakistani troops initially exercised restraint however, responded befittingly when India started heavy firing. The firing ended today at 11 am,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his concerns over the ceasefire violation and the loss of six innocent lives in the cross-border firing.
The prime minister also directed foreign office and defence authorities to take up the matter with their Indian counterparts
Read: Border firing kills 9 on Pakistan-India war anniversary
Earlier on Friday, cross-border firing between India and Pakistan killed at least nine people, the day India marked the 50th anniversary of a war between the two neighbours.
On the Pakistani side of the frontier, six civilians were killed and more than 40 were treated for wounds in hospital in the town of Sialkot, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
India’s Border Security Force said three civilians had died and 22 were wounded in firing across the frontier in the northern Jammu region. Both said the other side had opened fire first.
Defence minister condemns ceasefire violations
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif termed Indian aggression on the line of control as part of a ‘planned conspiracy against Pakistan.’
Warning India against imposing a war-like situation, Asif said Pakistan reserves the right to respond to cross-border aggression to protect itself.
He added that Pakistan had suffered the most in the war against terror, rendering innumerable sacrifices, and continues to do so with operations against militants continuing.
President vows to raise ceasefire violations at international fora
President Mamnoon Hussain has warned New Delhi that it will have to pay a heavy price for its aggression if Pakistan took up the matter at the international level.
Lamenting the loss of precious lives, Mamnoon noted that India had violated international law, traditions and agreements.
Moreover, Prime Minister’s advisor on national security Sartaj Aziz expressed ‘extreme concern’ over continued Indian violation of ceasefire.
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