Pakistan summons Indian envoy again to protest 'unprovoked' firing

Islamabad, Nov 9: Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh for the second time in less than 24 hours to lodge a "strong" protest over "unprovoked" ceasefire violations across the Line of Control.

Foreign Officer Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh and "strongly" condemned Indian ceasefire violations on Tuesday in the Khuirata and Battal sectors, resulting in the deaths of four civilians, including a 10-year-old girl, a statement said. 

The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement, investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, and stop targeting villages and civilians along the LoC, the statement added.

The statement said that India has so far this year, "committed 222 ceasefire violations out of which 184 have been on the LoC and 38 on the Working Boundary, resulting in shahadat of 26 civilians and injuries to 107 others".

The envoy was summoned on Tuesday over the ceasefire violations that led to the deaths of three people, including a woman, and injuries to four others.

The Indian Deputy High Commissioner has been summoned to the Foreign Office four times in the past weeks, amid rising tensions between the two neighbours.