India on Saturday summoned Charge d'Affaires of Pakistan High Commission and lodged a strong protest over unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces on multiple sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on November 13.
Pakistan had indulged in heavy cross-border shelling along the LoC in which five security forces personnel and six civilians lost their lives. Indian troops retaliated strongly, killing eight Pakistani soldiers and injuring 12 others besides causing extensive damage to its infrastructure.
The Ministry of External Affairs said India condemned in strongest terms the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by Pakistani forces.
“It is highly deplorable that Pakistan chose a festive occasion in India to disrupt peace and perpetrate violence in Jammu and Kashmir through coordinated firing along the LoC,” the ministry said in a statement.
New Delhi also lodged protest over Pakistan’s continued support to cross border infiltration into India, including through supporting cover fire by Pakistani forces.
“Pakistan was reminded of its bilateral commitment to not allow any territory under its control to be used for terrorism against India,” the MEA said.
Officials said the Pakistan army had resorted to heavy firing and shelling targeting villages and forward areas along the LoC in Poonch district, injuring seven people, including two Army porters. Two civilians were killed in Kamalkote sector in Uri while a woman was killed in Balkote area in Haji Peer sector, the officials added.
A number of videos released by the Indian Army showed destruction of several Pakistani positions and bunkers across the LoC with some of them going up in flames following the Indian retaliation.
According to official data, Pakistan has resorted to 4,052 incidents of ceasefire violations in the current year as against 3,233 in 2019.
Notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic in the region, Pakistan has been resorting to unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and making concerted efforts to push militants into Kashmir.
Pakistani hostilities increased after India announced its decision to withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divide the state into two union territories in August last year.
With inputs from PTI