Woman martyred in unprovoked Indian firing across LoC

RAWALPINDI: A woman was martyred in unprovoked firing by Indian forces across the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The "unprovoked, deliberate" firing Indian forces targetted civilian population in Bhimber sector along the LoC, the ISPR said in a statement.

Consequently, a woman named Munazza Bibi, who was a mother of two, was martyred.

Pakistani forces retaliated to the unprovoked firing and engaging Indian posts, the statement added.

Unprovoked firing by Indian forces is not uncommon along the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary. Indian soldier routinely resort to such cross-border fire, not even sparing civilian-populated areas.

The incidents have claimed lives of hundreds of Pakistani soldiers and civilians so far.

Despite repeated calls for restraint from Pakistan, Indian troops continue to violate the ceasefire agreement between the two countries.

In September, Indian forces' war hysteria touched new heights when they fired on a civilian helicopter well inside Azad Kashmir. The chopper was carrying Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider.

The incident took place near the Line of Control (LoC) on September 30 when PM Haider was on his way to a nearby village to extend condolences to the family of a local politician who had passed away.

"My helicopter had not even committed any violation and was flying well within our side of the LoC when Indian troops opened fire," the AJK PM had said later in a statement.

Pakistan has taken up the matter of Indian ceasefire violations on relative international forums, including the United Nations, but New Delhi has never allowed international observers' into its territory or occupied Kashmir.

The violations along the LoC saw an increase after the right-wing government of Narendra Modi took power in India.

In 2017, Indian forces committed more than 1900 ceasefire violations.