Pakistan's foreign ministry has summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to lodge a strongly-worded protest for targeting civilians in cross-border fire due to an alleged violation of the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Nepazir Sector on Tuesday.
"Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by Indian Army in Nezapir Sector of Line of Control, three innocent civilians embraced martyrdom, while eight others, including women and children, sustained serious injuries," reads a statement issued by Pakistan's foreign ministry.
Pakistan also accused India of the "deliberate targeting of civilian-populated areas" and termed the act a "deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws."
Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir, Raja Farooq Haider Khan, said in a separate statement that Indian forces are violating international laws by using cluster bombs against civilians living across Line of Control (LoC).
Heavy firing between India and Pakistan has been underway at different sectors of the Line of Control for last 48 hours. Pakistan has accused Indian troops of "heavy" shelling: detonating cluster bombs in civilian areas.
Traditionally tense Pakistani-Indian relations dipped to a new low in February after New Delhi pinned blame on Islamabad for sponsoring terror attacks in Kashmir claimed by terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad. India carried out a retaliatory strike to destroy the group’s infrastructure.
The Kashmir issue dates back to 1947 when both countries became independent from Britain and later claimed the region as belonging to them.
