Pakistan has conveyed it to India that the “deliberate targeting of innocent civilians” along the line of control by Indian forces was “highly unprofessional and unethical”, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, Pakistan’s Director General Military Operations (DGMO) made "an unscheduled hotline contact" with his Indian counterpart and recorded protest against the targeting of civilians [by Indian forces] in Nezapir, Chirikot and Battal sectors along the LoC.

“Such provocations are causing loss of innocent civilian lives and are potentially dangerous to invoke an unbearable response,” the ISPR said.

In September, the apex body for civil-military coordination on national security matters had vowed to defend Pakistan against all forms of external aggression, placing a particular emphasis on countering the aggressive stance adopted by neighbouring India.

The National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, had expressed deep concern over repeated ceasefire violations by India along the LoC, which had resulted in the loss of several innocent lives.

The heavily militarised LoC that splits the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir has been witnessing cross-border shelling for quite some time, in sheer disregard of a November 2003 truce agreement. The ceasefire violations mostly culminate in civilian casualties.