Ians

Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia and lodged a protest over "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

According to Pakistan's Foreign Office, the alleged ceasefire violations took place on Saturday and Sunday and resulted in the death of two civilians, while three others were injured.

Giving details of the incidents, a statement from the Ministry said that two civilians -- 60-year-old Salamat Bibi and 13-year-old Zeeshan Ayub -- were killed in Nikyal and Rakhchikri sectors. Three people sustained critical bullet wounds in the incidents, it added.

Mohammed Faisal, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson and Director General (South Asia & SAARC), said that the Indian forces along the LoC and Working Boundary "have continuously been violating the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, which needs to be respected".

"The targeting of civilians is indeed condemnable", he said and termed it as "a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation".

Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and investigate the incidents of truce violations, said the statement.

He also said that the Indian side should permit the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

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