A Pakistani army soldier was martyred after Indian troops resorted to "unprovoked shots" in the Hajipir sector of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Public Relations Services (ISPR) said on Saturday.
The military media member identified the official as Havaldar Nasir Hussain, 33, a resident of Narowal, who had been in service for 16 years.
A second ISPR statement issued later that day said that Indian troops had also resorted to unprovoked shots in the Nakyal and Jandrot sectors, targeting the civilian population.
As a result of the shooting, a woman identified as Fatima Bibi, a 40-year-old resident of Balakot Village, died, while six others, including four women, were injured. The injured were evacuated to a nearby medical facility for medical treatment, the press release added.
The images shared by the villagers on social networks showed smoke coming out of the mountains where mortar shells from all over the LoC had landed. Several houses were also damaged.
Shariq Talat, a disaster management officer in Kotli, said Dawn In addition to Fatima Bibi, seven other people were injured in "indiscriminate" Indian bombing. They were identified as Nazia Bibi, 36; Shah Begum, 70; Gul Yasmin, 50, and his 21-year-old daughter, Shumaila; Muhammad Lal in the village of Daryari Paalani; Muhammad Ilyas, 28, a resident of Androth Palani village; and Muhammad Sabir, 48, in Dharoti Mohra.
He said that two buffaloes and a goat owned by Muhammad Lal were also killed in the bombing.
According to civil and military sources, at least 38 civilians have been killed and 187 injured in ceasefire violations by the Indian army in different areas of AJK throughout the LoC in 2019. Apart from them, up to 18 soldiers have also lost life.
On Thursday, Sepoy Ghulam Rasool had also been martyred in gunfire not caused by Indian troops in the Hajipir sector.
Shooting incidents throughout the LoC occur as tensions remain high between India and Pakistan over the movement of the former to revoke the special autonomy of occupied Kashmir.
Indian Envoy summoned
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) convened on Saturday the Indian Head of ʻAffairs Gaurav Ahluwalia to present a protest against the "unprovoked violations of the fire" of the Indian army.
According to a statement issued by the FO, the Director General (SA & SAARC) Dr. Mohammad Faisal urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement. He also urged the Indian side to allow UNMOGIP to play its mandatory role. according to the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
"The Indian occupation forces along LoC and Working Boundary have been continuously attacking areas populated by civilians with artillery fire, large caliber mortars and automatic weapons," said FO's press release.
He added: "The deliberate targeting of areas populated by civilians is deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. Violations of the ceasefire by India are a threat to regional peace and security and they can lead to a strategic calculation error. "
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1505168/soldier-martyred-woman-dead-in-unprovoked-firing-by-indian-troops-across-loc