Indian firing kills four civilians: Pakistan

Islamabad, Jan 6: Pakistan army on Monday said that Indian troops killed four civilians in the fresh cross-border firing, taking the death toll of civilians to five in three days, Xinhua reported.

Indian force on Saturday killed a 13-year-old girl in the recent escalation along the border.

An army statement late on Monday said that a woman was among the four people died in un-provoked firing by the Indian Boarder Forces in Sialkot sector along the Working Boundary.

"Two more civilians embraced shahadat (martyrdom) due to Indian unprovoked firing/ shelling," the statement said.

"Exchange of firing continues. Pakistani troops targeting the Indian BSF positions which are firing in Pakistan area," the statement from the army's Inter-Services Public Relations said.

Indian defense officials also claimed casualties in recent exchange of firing.

Pakistan and Indian border forces have been involved in clashes in recent days despite a ceasefire agreement in 2003.

Cross-border shelling has again been increased between the two neighbours in the Kashmir region and along the Working Boundary.

Also Wednesday, Indian BSF killed two Pakistani soldiers, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

The Indian Border Security Force troops invited the personnel of the Rangers, who guard Pakistani border, for a flag meeting, but "greeted the unsuspecting soldiers with a volley of unprovoked fire," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson says.

Indian Defense Ministry said on Friday that Indian forces neutralised a "possible terror boat from Pakistan" after the Indian Coast Guards chased a Pakistani fishing boat carrying at least four crew members and explosives. The crew members were forced to blow the boat up, said Indian Defense Ministry.

IANS