ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with India over yesterday's Line of Control (LoC) violation by Indian troops which resulted in the killing of a Pakistan Army soldier.
A senior Indian diplomat from the Indian High Commission in the federal capital was summoned at South Asian desk of the foreign ministry and was conveyed Pakistan’s serious concerns over the issue, said a statement issued on Friday.
During the meeting, Pakistan made it clear that such violations of the LoC will not be tolerated.
Indian diplomat was reminded that India has to respect the ceasefire agreement at the LoC and prevent its forces from such actions.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing at the LoC in Pandu sector near Muzaffarabad on Thursday.
“Pakistani troops befittingly responded to Indian firing,” it added.
The incident took place the same day when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Azad Jammu-Kashmir (AJK) capital, Muzzafarabad and extended his support to Kashmiris for their right of self determination. He made his intentions clear that Pakistan will speak with Kashmiri leaders before it enters into dialogue with India.
Read: Pakistan to talk to Kashmiri leaders before dialogue with India: Nawaz
At least 14 civilians were killed and 50 others were injured by the cross border firing at LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) a little more than a month ago.
In December last year, Pakistan and India had pledged to uphold the 2003 LoC ceasefire accord which had been left in tatters by repeated violations that year. The truce breaches had put the nascent bilateral peace dialogue on hold.
The Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored de facto border of LoC but is claimed in full by both the countries.
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Ceasefire violations along the LoC and Working Boundary between Pakistan and India continue intermittently, with casualties reported on both sides.
