Pakistan protests with India over ‘ceasefire violation’

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan on Wednesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to lodge a protest against what it called a recent "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces in Kashmir.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office’s spokesman said a 12-year-old boy and a woman were killed, while four others were injured on July 22 and 23 along the Line of Control (LoC) -- a de facto border that divides disputed Kashmir valley between Pakistan and India.

“The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons,” the statement said, adding: "The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation."

On July 22, Indian Defense Ministry’s spokesman said in a statement Pakistan army resorted to “unprovoked ceasefire violation” on the line of control (LoC) in which one Indian Army soldier was killed.

"Own troops responded strongly and inflicted heavy damage to Pakistan Army posts and casualties to Pakistan soldiers, details of damage is yet to be ascertained," said the statement.

The Indian army identified slain soldier as Arif Shafi Alam Khan Patha.

"The Nation will always remain indebted to him for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the statement said.

* Ahmad Adil from India contributed to this story.