One citizen was killed while three others were injured on Saturday as Indian soldiers initiated mortar fire in Thurti Narr village outside Nikayal sector in Kotli district of Azad Kashmir, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the ISPR, Pakistan's troops retaliated by targeting the Indian post that had initiated the firing.

FO Director General (South Asia and Saarc) Dr Muhammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh to lodge a protest over the ceasefire violation.

A statement issued by the FO said Indian forces have committed more than 400 ceasefire violations since the start of 2018, killing 17 civilians and injuring 68 others through the use of heavy mortars and automatic weapons.

"The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," the statement said.

The incident comes only days after the Pakistan Army destroyed an Indian army post across the LoC and killed two soldiers hours after a Pakistani minor boy lost his life in Indian firing on a border village.

Ceasefire violations are a frequent feature along the LoC and Working Boundary despite the leadership of Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Forces agreeing in November 2017 that the "spirit" of the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement must be revived to protect innocent lives.


With additional reporting by Naveed Siddiqui in Islamabad.

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