RAWALPINDI: Four civilians and a Pakistani soldier were martyred after Indian border forces targeted civilian population in various area of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir along the Line of Control, the military’s media wing said Friday.
In a statement, the ISPR said Indian soldiers targeted civilian populations in Neelum, Jhelum and Bagh valleys.
Pakistani soldiers, according to the ISPR, gave a “befitting reply” to India’s “provocative act” and targeted Indian posts.
“As a result, substantial losses, both in terms of men and material, have been incurred on to Indian troops which have also been accepted by Indian media,” read the ISPR statement. It said that a Pakistani soldier was also martyred in the clash.
On the other hand, the Indian media reported that at least four Indian soldiers and six civilians were killed in Indian-held Kashmir due to firing by Pakistani soldiers.
The reason behind India’s provocation along the LoC, according to the ISPR, is that at least four soldiers were killed in an encounter with a “few freedom fighters” in district Kupwara on November 7.
“To ward off the humiliation faced by the Indian Army in front of domestic audience, instead of finding the reasons from within and addressing the same, on November 13, 2020, the Indian Army opted for resorting to unprovoked and indiscriminate fire of all calibers, including artillery and heavy mortars, along LOC in various sectors of AJ&K,” said the ISPR.
Meanwhile, The Foreign Office said in a statement that it summoned the Indian Chargé d’Affaires to register “strong protest” over ceasefire violations by the Indian Army.
Indian provocations along the LoC are tantamount to disregarding international human rights obligations and the 2003 ceasefire understanding between the two countries, read the statement.
The Foreign Office added that at least 25 people have been killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and 218 civilians were injured in 2,737 ceasefire violations by the Indian forces this year alone.
