Pakistan "protested the deliberate" targeting of civilians along the Line of Control (LoC) during the Pakistani and Indian armies' special hotline contact on Monday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

"Indian troops are deliberately targeting innocent civilians, including children," the Pakistan's director-general of military operations (DGMO) told his Indian counterpart, according to the statement. "Such deliberate actions are [a] serious concern."

According to ISPR, when the Indian side alleged that Pakistan had targeted Indian civilians along the LoC, Pakistan "clarified that the country considers people living across LoC as [sic] brethren."

"Pakistan Army, as a professional force, has never done this," the ISPR statement added.

The heavily militarised LoC has recently been witnessing sporadic skirmishes and artillery duels.

On Oct 24, two women were killed and five men were wounded when Indian troops opened fire in Leepa valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. On the same day, Adeeba Kosar, a 12-year-old girl ─ who had been injured in an incident of firing by Indian troops on Oct 18 along with seven others ─ succumbed to her injuries.

The Oct 18 incident was described as the "heaviest incident of shelling" by Indian troops across LoC. Women and children were among those injured on that day.

According to Indian media, during Monday's hotline contact, the Indian army warned of continued retaliation to "acts of aggression", while alleging that Pakistan is supporting terrorism.

Times of India quoted India's DGMO, Lt Gen A K Bhatt, as saying that the country would "continue to retaliate [against] 'provocative acts of aggression'."

"Pakistan Army’s support [for] terrorism is unacceptable," The Statesman quoted the DGMO as saying.

Hotline contact was established two days after Pakistan Army said it had shot down an Indian ‘spy drone’ along the LoC.

Tensions between the two countries have continued to flare amid unrelenting ceasefire violations at the heavily-militarised de facto border.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.