Pakistan says Indian firing kills civilian along LoC
Xinhua, August 15, 2015 Adjust font size:
The Pakistan army said on Saturday that unprovoked Indian firing has killed a civilian along the Line of Control (LoC) which divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region.
An army statement said Muhammad Shafi was killed when Indian fired at civilian areas in Nikial Sector district Kotli along the LoC in a latest ceasefire violation.
Three civilians were also injured in the firing, a statement from the military's Inter-Services Public Relations said, adding that Pakistani troops bafflingly responded to the Indian firing.
Guns had relatively been silent since Pakistan and India declared ceasefire along the LoC in 2003. However, both sides occasionally exchange fire.
An escalation has seen in recent days as both sides claim casualties.
The incident came just days ahead of top security talks between the two nuclear neighbors.
Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz will travel to New Delhi on Aug. 23 for the talks that will also explore ways to reduce the tensions.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia last month after months of break in high-level contacts due to exchange of harsh statements and exchange of fire on the LoC. Endi