Pakistan condemns Indian firing that killed 7 soldiers

Pakistan Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz on Monday condemned the unprovoked Indian firing on the Line of Control (LOC) on late Sunday night, which has led to the killing of seven Pakistani soldiers in the Bhimber sector of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

He expressed grave concern over the recently increased frequency and duration of "indiscriminate firing/shelling from the Indian side, deliberately targeting villages and civilian populated areas, which has resulted in the Shahadat (martyrdom) of 26 civilians and injuries to 107, including women and children, in complete violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding and international law."

The Armed Forces of Pakistan gave a befitting response, said Aziz in a statement.

The foreign affairs adviser expressed the apprehension that the Indian actions, which constituted a threat to the maintenance of peace and security, may lead to strategic miscalculation. He emphasized that Pakistan was exercising maximum restraint in the face of Indian belligerence.

Pakistan is urging the UNMOGIP to send an urgent report to the UN Security Council to inform it about the serious ceasefire violations on LOC and the unwarranted escalation of tension between the two countries, the adviser said.

Pakistani and Indian border troops have been involved in cross-border clashes since a September attack on an army base in the Indian-held Kashmir, which led to the killing of 19 Indian troops. Enditem