Indian firing injures five civilians in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir: army

ISLAMABAD, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani army said at least five civilians were injured in an Indian forces' firing across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir region.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan army, said late Wednesday that Indian forces opened unprovoked fire at the civilian population in the Khoi Ratta sector of Kashmir.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC in 2003, but both sides often exchange firings and blame each other for violation of the agreement.

The Pakistani army claimed to have responded to the Indian posts from where the firing was initiated, adding that it is the second ceasefire violation by the Indian forces in less than a week.

Earlier on Saturday, a woman was killed as Indian troops resorted to an unprovoked fire in the Nakyal sector along the LoC.

Following the incident, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a protest by calling on New Delhi to abide by the ceasefire agreement.

The ministry's spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said that unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year of 2017 when Indian forces committed 1,970 ceasefire violations. Enditem