India today summoned the Pakistan envoy and lodged a strong protest against the killing of five civilians in "unprovoked firing" by Pakistani forces, terming the incident "highly deplorable".
India today summoned the Pakistan envoy and lodged a strong protest against the killing of five civilians in "unprovoked firing" by Pakistani forces, terming the incident "highly deplorable".
Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah was summoned today and was told that such heinous acts are against established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct, the External Affairs Ministry said.
Pakistani troops targeted villages across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. A family of 5 - husband, wife and three children - were killed in firing by Pakistan forces in Bhimber Gali Sector across the LoC.
Two sisters were critically injured in the shelling and were airlifted to Jammu for treatment.
Shah was summoned to the South Block and a strong protest was lodged at the loss of lives.
"It was conveyed that the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, who are located two kilometers away from the forward line of defences, by Pakistan forces using high caliber weapons, is highly deplorable and is condemned in the strongest terms," the ministry said in a statement.
"Such heinous acts are against established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. Pakistan authorities are called upon to investigate into such heinous acts and instruct its forces to desist from such acts immediately," the statement said.
"Our strong concerns were shared at continued unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and the International Border," it said.
The ministry said that more than 560 such violations have been carried out by Pakistan forces at the LoC in 2018 in which 23 Indian civilians have been killed and 70 other have been injured.
"The Pakistan side was also asked to end the support being given to cross-border infiltration of terrorists, including through covering fire," it said.
The Army on Sunday said the ceasefire violation by Pakistan was a serious issue of concern as civilian localities much deep inside Indian territory, almost three-four kilometers from the LoC, were targeted despite the fact that there was no Army deployment or any installation or even no equipment installed.
Army PRO Lt. Col. Devender Anand said the mortar shelling from across the LoC was "unprovoked and indiscriminate" and lasted from 0745 hours to 1130 hours. Indian troops guarding the border retaliated strongly and effectively, he added.
Lt. Col. Anand said Pakistani troops used small arms, 81 mm and 120mm mortar shells.
(With PTI inputs)
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