A school van of a private school along the Line of Control (LoC) came under attack on Friday in Nakyal sector of Kotli district as the Indian troops open fired, killing the driver of the van and injuring at least four children, said a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The attack took place in Mohra Sharif village of Nakial sector, in which, driver of the school van identified as Afzal was killed while four minors sustained injuries.
“Pakistani troops effectively responded and targeted Indian posts from where the fire was coming,” the ISPR added.
Months of tension between India and Pakistan have erupted into shelling and gunfire across the disputed Kashmir frontier, claiming the lives of dozens of people, including civilians.
India has committed more than two hundred ceasefire violations this year, targeting Bhimber, Nakial, Battal, Jandrot, Neza Pir, Chakothi, Lipa, Taobat, Keran sector and other areas.
Reportedly, 39 people including 10 women were killed and more than 120 injured in unprovoked fire by Indian forces. Around 77 houses were also damaged, whereas 300 families were forced to migrate to safer places.
On December 3, the newly-elected Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa vowed that any LoC violation will be responded with full force in the most effective manner.
Indian Deputy HC summoned, protest lodged
Pakistan lodged a strong protest with India over the shelling on a school van in Azad Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday.
The Foreign Office’s Director General for South Asia and SAARC Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh to strongly condemn the attack on the school van by Indian troops.
He said that the attack was in violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws.
The director general urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement and investigate this morning’s incident and other incidents of ceasefire violations.
