Pakistan lodges protest over India's cross-border shelling

Pakistan lodged protest with India over the cross-border shelling that killed at least two people, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

"The Government of Pakistan lodged protest with the Government of India on the latest unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian security forces in Pukhlian-Aknur sector at the Working Boundary. Two civilians, aged 14 and 22, embraced shahadat, and 7 others, including 3 children and 2 women, were injured," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Giving details, the Foreign Ministry statement said the unprovoked ceasefire violations were started by India at New Kane and two other posts at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

"Pakistani posts responded to this provocation. The Indian troops then opened fire from all their posts in the area targeting civilians and villages," he said.

The spokesman said the Government of Pakistan conveyed its deep concern at the continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian side at the LoC and the Working Boundary and targeting of the civilians.

Pakistan and India declared ceasefire in 2003 and guns have been relatively silent since then; however, both forces of the two countries occasionally exchange fire.

While condemning the ceasefire violations, the Government of Pakistan urged India to stop the ceasefire violations and to observe the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding to create peace and tranquility at the LoC and Working Boundary.

The recent firing incidents have increased tensions between the nuclear neighbors.

Prime ministers of Pakistan and India met at Ufa, Russia in July and decided that their National Security Advisors will meet soon to explore ways to lessen the tensions.

India on its part also claims ceasefire violations by Pakistan.