LOC00:43
21:43 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Aug 20 (KUNA) -- At least six Indian soldiers, including an officer, were killed and many others injured in a Pakistani Army response to recent Indian ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), said military on Tuesday.
Pakistan military's spokesperson, Major-General Asif Ghafoor in a tweet on Tuesday said, "Pakistan Army targeted Indian posts. 6 Indian soldiers including an officer killed, many injured."
The exchange of fire took place in Tatta Pani sector along the LoC where three civilians including a seven-year-old boy were killed in Pakistan administered Kashmir due to cross border firing.
The director general of Pakistan military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also confirmed that two bunkers of the Indian army were destroyed in firing by Pakistani troops.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Office on Tuesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to protest "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian border forces along the LoC in Hot Spring and Chirikot sectors.
"The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and Working Boundary have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-calibre mortars, and automatic weapons, which still continues," said FO statement.
It further said that this unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by Indian forces has been going on since the year 2017, when they committed 1,970 such violations.
"The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws," the statement read.
The tension along the border has risen after Indian government revoked disputed Kashmir's special status with a presidential order earlier this month.
The order revokes Article 370 of India's Constitution, which gives the state of Jammu and Kashmir its own constitution and decision-making rights for all matters except for defense, communications and foreign affairs. (end)
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