Two militants believed to be members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday in Watergam town in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, ANI reported. Moreover, a solder died in cross-border firing with Pakistan Kupwara district's Machhal sector.
Another soldier, who was critically injured in "unprovoked firing by Pakistan" on Tuesday, succumbed to his wounds on Wednesday, India Today reported. Harindra Kumar was admitted to a hospital after Indian Army posts along the Line of Control were targeted in Nowshera sector. Another jawan Prem Singh was killed in the cross-border firing on Tuesday.
Spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said the Indian government had summoned the Pakistani deputy high commissioner to convey "strong concern" regarding the "ceasefire violations" the neighbouring country continued to indulge in along the Line of Control. "The government has conveyed that such loss of life is unacceptable," he said, adding that civilians suffering injuries during shelling by Pakistan was "deplorable".
Swarup further said that India had lodged a protest with the Pakistani deputy high commissioner regarding the country prominently displaying photographs of eight Indian High Commission officials in newspapers "in the wake of the factually incorrect allegations made by the government of Pakistan". He emphasised that it was "against basic norms of diplomatic practices and courtesy", in addition to potentially endangering the security and safety of the officials in Islamabad.
"It is expected that the Pakistani side will desist from such actions and will ensure the security of all members of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad," Swarup said. His statement comes hours after the Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned by the Pakistani Foreign Office, where the country "condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian forces in the Khuirata and Battal sectors," according to The Express Tribune.
Incidents of ceasefire violations have increased since the Indian Army said it conducted surgical strikes along the LoC, targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan. The strikes were carried out after the militant attack on the Army camp in Kashmir's Uri sector.
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