ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani military issued a statement Thursday morning saying personnel from the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) had resorted to unprovoked firing along the working boundary in Sialkot's Shakargarh and Charwah sectors.

"BSF forces targetted civilian population in villages," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, adding that Pakistani troops effectively responded to the firing.

The recent violence along the working boundary and the Line of Control (LoC) has killed at least 20 civilians and wounded dozens. While the situation is now relatively abated, tensions remain high between the neighbouring countries.

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Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan's top military spokesman had said the country wanted peace on its borders, but was ready to respond to any form of aggression from its neighbours.

"We do not want to disrupt peace but if the other side resorts to aggression then it will be responded accordingly," Major General Asim Bajwa had said.

In December last year, the two countries had pledged to uphold the 2003 ceasefire accord which was 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, which is the main contention, between the two countries, is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored de facto border of LoC. The territory is claimed in full by both the countries.

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