India resorts to unprovoked shelling in Shahkot, Jura sectors

• Pakistan lodges protest with India over fresh ceasefire violations and killing of four civilians along LoC

Indian troops resorted to unprovoked shelling using heavy artillery in Shahkot and Jura sectors in Neelum Valley along the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday evening, army’s media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

“This was the first use of artillery by the Indians during the current phase of escalation,” the statement added.

Indian troops also resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling in Kel sector.

“Exchange of fire continued as Pakistani troops responded to Indians by targeting their defence posts,” the ISPR said, adding that “no loss of life has been reported so far”.

Earlier in the day, the Foreign Office summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to protest over the fresh ceasefire violations by Indian forces on the LoC.

The Director General (SA & SAARC) strongly condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces in Khuirata and Battal sectors which resulted in martyrdom of four civilians, Ashfaq, Naeem Ghazi, Kulsoom Bibi and a young girl Amna, of 10 years of age and injuries to seven others.

The director general urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate the continued incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, stop targeting the villages and civilians and maintain peace on the LoC.

So far, this year, India has committed 222 ceasefire violations out of which 184 have been on the LoC and 38 on the Working Boundary. Some 26 civilians were martyred in these ceasefire violations and at least 107 others wounded.