ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest against the recent ‘unprovoked ceasefire violations’ by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Harpal and other sectors.

“The Indian Deputy High Commissioner was called in by the Director General (South Asia and SAARC) at the Foreign Office to lodge a strong protest against the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian troops at the Line of Control (LoC) in Harpal and other sectors,” said FO Spokesman Qazi Khalilullah.

Read: Pakistan lodges protest against ‘ceasefire violations’ by India

"The Indian firing resulted in the martyrdom of a civilian, Muhammad Shareef,” he said.

The spokesman also added that Indian forces also resorted to unprovoked firing at Jandrot, Nakyal and Karela sectors, as a result of which another civilian was killed and four others were injured.

A Dawn correspondent confirmed that Noor Begum, 75, widow of Lal Mohammad, was killed Wednesday after a mortar shell landed in the courtyard of her house in Dheri Dabsi village of Nakyal sector, quoting Sardar Adnan Khurshid, Deputy Commissioner Kotli.

"Nakyal sector is being constantly targeted by Indian troops for the past several days with both light and heavy weapons," said Khurshid.

"Of the seven deaths in the current spell of cross border shelling, six have taken place in Nakyal sector alone. Around 32 people have been injured, 27 of them belong to Nakyal," added Khurshid.

The deputy commissioner also stated that 16 houses were damaged in the sector.

Pakistan expressed concern over continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary, urging India to immediately stop the violations and observe the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding to create peace and tranquility.

With the national security advisers of both countries scheduled to meet in New Delhi on August 23, tensions have been high due to regular bouts of violence reported on the shared Kashmir border between the two nuclear-armed states. Both countries have in the past few weeks used diplomatic channels on multiple occasions to protest ceasefire violations by the other.

Read: India summons Pakistan envoy over civilian deaths in Kashmir.

Indian authorities have also claimed several civilian deaths from 'unprovoked firing' by forces on Pakistan's side.

Ties between the two rival states, both of which claim in full the disputed Jammu and Kashmir territory, and have fought two wars over it, were further strained after Pakistan invited separatist leaders from Indian occupied Kashmir for talks in its New Delhi diplomatic enclave on August 23 – the same day security advisers from both countries are scheduled to hold landmark talks.

Take a look: Pakistan invites separatists for meeting 'to irritate India': Indian analyst.

Yesterday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced alarm at the latest upsurge in violence along the disputed border of India and Pakistan in Kashmir and urged restraint on the part of both governments.

Earlier in August, Pakistan Army lodged a strong protest with the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) over unprovoked firing by Indian troops along the working boundary at Sialkot's Pukhlian sector.

The army had launched a similar complaint with the UN body in July also, in relation to incidents of unprovoked firing by Indian forces at Sialkot's Chaprar sector and in Rawalakot's Neza Pir sector along the LoC.

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.

Ceasefire violations along the LoC and working boundary between Pakistan and India continue intermittently, with casualties reported on both sides.

Read more: Pakistan moves UNMOGIP over unprovoked Indian firing along LoC

Official sources say unprovoked firing by Indian troops on the working boundary has been continuing for the past many weeks.