India, third time in less than two weeks, resorted to unprovoked aggression when it violated the ceasefire agreement and shelled across the working boundary, killing one woman and injuring seven people on Thursday.
The Indian and Pakistani troops also exchanged fire across the Working Boundary, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The “intense and heavy” exchange of fire continued for 11 hours on Harpal and Chaprar sectors on the Working Boundary, it said. The ISPR added that Pakistani troops responded “befittingly” to Indian firing and inflicted “heavy casualties” while targeting Indian posts.
Heavy mortar shelling by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on villages along the Working Boundary a day earlier killed two residents of villages in the Chaprar sector and left another eight badly wounded.
In total, more than four people, including an infant, have been killed and 26 residents of villages along the Working Boundary have been injured since Monday.
For the third time, the Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned to the Foreign Office where the South Asia and SAARC director general lodged a protest over ceasefire violations by the BSF in the Chaprar and Harpal sectors and along the Line of Control in the Bhimber sector. The Indian diplomat was asked to ensure that the incidents were investigated and that the findings shared with Pakistan.
Later, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan would give a befitting response if Indian ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary continued.
The prime minister condemned unprovoked firing by Indian forces, stating that precious lives were lost and civilians had been injured.
He said that Pakistan was showing restraint to every possible extent, but attempts for peace should not be considered weakness. The prime minister added that Pakistan was a peace-loving country and believed in solving conflicts through talks.
In a message on Twitter, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday expressed serious concern over the repeated ceasefire violations by the Indian Army along the Working Boundary areas and LoC. He stated that the tension on WB and LoC multiplied.
Meanwhile, Punjab Rangers Director General Major General Umar Farooq Burki on Thursday visited Working Boundary areas in Sialkot sector.
He visited forward posts and interacted with troops deployed.
While talking to commanders and troops he said: “We the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) have taken a sacred pledge to defend our country at all costs and will continue to do so with all our strength. We have requisite resolve to take on any challange. Any act of unprovoked aggression will be paid in same coin”.
He directed the commanders to keep a vigilant eye on enemy fire and respond in a befitting manner.
Earlier on his arrival, Major General Burki was received by Sector Commander Brigadier Amjad Hussain. He was given a briefing on latest operational situation on Working Boundary and measures taken to respond enemies unprovoked shelling. He appreciated high morale of troops and state of preparedness.
