RAWALPINDI, November 23: At least nine civilians were martyred and several including women and children injured as a result of unprovoked Indian shelling at the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Indian forces carried out unprovoked artillery shelling in Neelum Valley at the LoC. The ISPR placed the death toll at seven civilians martyred and 11 injured.
Indian troops fired a rocket at a passenger bus near Dhaundiyal. They also fired at an ambulance and targeted the settlements along the border, ISPR said.
Seven of those targeted by Indian shelling were critically injured, officials said. A shell was fired at a house where a girl was martyred and three people, including a woman, were injured.
The ISPR added that Pakistani troops responded in a befitting manner to the Indian aggression during which 7 Indian soldiers were killed.
According to the ISPR, three Pakistani soldiers also embraced martyrdom. Those martyred include Capt Taimoor Ali Khan, Havildar Mushtaq Hussain, and Lance Naik Ghulam Hussain.
Educational institutions were shut down in the area for an indefinite period following the heavy shelling. According to Commissioner Neelum Valley, a shahrah leading to Khel was also closed for traffic. Markets in the area were also closed.
In Mirpur, teachers and students protested against unprovoked Indian firing at the LoC. Protesters chanted anti-Indian and pro-Pakistan slogans.
Calling on the international community to take notice of atrocities being committed, protesters said India was afraid of the freedom movement in Kashmir.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that in today’s clash Indian Army suffered more losses. “The region can come under fire due to India’s warmongering,” said Asif.
Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif condemned Indian firing at the LoC. Shehbaz Sharif added that Pakistani soldiers were giving a befitting response to the Indian army. “The entire nation stands behind the Pakistan Army,” Sharif said.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the Indian firing which was targeting innocent civilians. Bilawal called on the United Nations to take notice of Indian ceasefire violations at LoC. – Agencies
