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Pakistan army says Indian firing kills four civilians

Xinhua, July 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pakistan army said on Thursday that Indian unprovoked firing has killed at least four civilians in a latest ceasefire violation.

"Three civilian Ghulam Mustafa, Rahat and Boota from Malana and Salehpur villages embraced 'shahadat' (Martyrdom) due to Indian unprovoked firing on Working Boundary near Sialkot," an army statement said. Five civilians were also injured, the statement from the army's Inter-Services Public Relations said.

The statement said one 18 years old Zareena Bibi was also killed on the Line of Control, which divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region, in Neza Pir sector near Rawlakot.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire in 2003 and the guns had relatively been silent since then. However, both sides occasionally exchange fire.

The incident comes just days after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia after months of a break in high level contacts over exchange of harsh statements and the exchange fire on the LoC.

In a joint statement issued after the talks, the two countries had decided to arrange meetings of senior military officials to lower tensions along the LoC.

In another development Pakistan Thursday summoned Indian High Commissioner and lodged a protest over the "air Space violation" when an Indian spy aircraft entered Pakistan's air space.

The Pakistan army said that an Indian spy drone was brought down on Wednesday.

An army statement said the spy drone was shot down by Pakistani troops which intruded into Pakistan along the Line of Control near Bhimber sector. The LoC divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region. Endi