(Karachi) Foreign Office on Sunday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register strong protest over ceasefire violations by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that Indian troops opened indiscriminate firing in Rakhchikri Sector of the LoC on Saturday. As a result, a 19 year old boy, resident of Village Kirni, sustained serious injuries, he added.

He said the Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons.

He highlighted that this year, India committed 2158 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in martyrdom of 17 security personnel and serious injuries to 168 innocent civilians.

The FO statement further said that these violations by India are a threat to ‘regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation'. “The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws," the statement said.

Pakistan urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire and instructed them to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary.