Pakistan, India summon each other's envoys

Pakistan and India on Saturday summoned each other's envoys, with the nuclear-armed neighbors accusing one another of violating a military ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir region.

Pakistan on Saturday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to lodge protest over the ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the LoC in Kashmir region, the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement

Two women were injured due to the firing by the Indian forces in Rakhchikri and Baroh sectors of the LoC on Friday, the foreign ministry noted.

According to the Pakistan foreign ministry, India has committed 1,697 ceasefire violations to date this year, resulting in 14 deaths and serious injuries to 133 civilians.

The Pakistani side condemned India's military action and underscored such "senseless acts are in clear violation" of the ceasefire understanding and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct, the statement said.

Pakistani Rangers (wearing black uniforms) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) officers lower their national flags during parade on the Pakistan's 72nd Independence Day, at the Pakistan-India joint check-post at Wagah border, near Lahore, Pakistan, August 14, 2019. /Reuters

"These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security," the statement added.

Meanwhile, India later also released an official statement saying a Pakistan High Commission was summoned by Indian side over Friday's accident.

"Charge d'Affaires of Pakistan High Commission was summoned today and a strong protest lodged on the death of three civilians, including a child, in an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistani forces in the night of July 17, 2020, in Krishna Ghati Sector in Jammu and Kashmir," stated the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

"This year alone, 21 Indians have been killed and 94 injured in over 2,711 unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces," it added

Pakistan and India had declared a ceasefire along the LoC and the working boundary in 2003. However, both sides routinely exchange fire and accuse each other of ceasefire violations.

Tension has been heightened after India lifted the special status for the Indian-controlled Kashmir in August last year. In its reaction, Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic relations, suspended trade relations and train service with India.

(With input from Xinhua)