Pakistan protested with India on Monday over the latter’s deliberate targeting of civilians along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary (WB).
“A special hot line contact was established between director generals military operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and Indian armies today,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The DGMO said Indian troops were deliberately targeting innocent civilians including children, which was of serious concern and a violation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement.
On Friday, Pakistan Army shot down an Indian spy drone which had intruded into the Rakchikri sector in Azad Kashmir. The drone was shot down in the Rakhchikri sector of the LoC and the wreckage has been recovered by the Army.
Pakistan also had summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner to record a protest over a border violation which resulted in the deaths of two civilians.
“On allegation of targeting of civilians by Pakistan Army, the DGMO clarified that Pakistan considers people living across the LoC as our brethren,” the statement said, adding that Pakistan Army, as a professional force, has never done this.
Tensions along the LoC have significantly increased after the right-wing government of Narendra Modi came to power in India.
Firing across the LoC has become a regular practice by Indian troops and has inflicted material and human losses on the Pakistani side of the border.
The situation along the LoC is tense these days due to repeated ceasefire violations by India. In 2017 to date, 1,140 truce violations have taken place along the LoC and WB, killing at least 45 civilians and injuring 192 others, according to the ISPR.
