Pak summons Indian envoy over killing of soldier at LoC

Islamabad, Sep 16: Pakistan today summoned India's deputy high commissioner here to lodge a protest over the killing of a solider in alleged firing by Indian troops.

Foreign Office said in a statement that a Pakistani soldier was killed yesterday, while a civilian was injured in Rawalakot today due to firing by Indian troops.

"The Indian Deputy High Commissioner (J P Singh) was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Director General (South Asia & SAARC) and a protest was lodged over the latest unprovoked ceasefire violations by India at the LoC," it said.

While condemning both the incidents, Pakistan expressed its deep concern over the continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian side at the LoC and targeting of the civilian areas, the statement said.

"The Indian government was urged to stop forthwith the ceasefire violations and observe the 2003 Ceasefire Arrangement for restoration of peace and tranquillity at the LoC and the Working Boundary," it said.

It is for the first time since meeting of border security chiefs in New Delhi that an Indian diplomat has been summoned over border incident.

The biannual meeting between commanders of Pakistan Rangers and Border Security Force on Saturday decided to completely ban firing of mortar shells along the border and LoC in Jammu and Kashmir which has killed several civilians and damaged houses.

PTI