Pakistan asks India to exercise restraint along LoC

In a statement issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz   said: "For seven days now, the Indian security forces have been firing and shelling across the Line of Control and Working Boundary. Yesterday was Eid day but the Indian forces, in complete disregard of the festive event, carried on the fire and put four innocent lives to death."

He said, "The Eid day when Muslims celebrate the spirit of sacrifice, the Indian forces played havoc with the lives of four families whose dear ones embraced Shahadat. It is sad that the Indian government has not been able to restrain its forces despite strong diplomatic protest by Pakistan. We call upon Indian government to immediately cease fire and shelling and help us preserve tranquility."

Aziz said  the Pakistani government of the country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been exercising utmost restraint and responsibility. 

" We also extended a hand of friendship to India. However, with abrupt cancellation of Foreign Secretary level talks, the Indian side has shunned all our peace overtures. We hope that the Indian side would give peace a chance. Cease fire at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary must be preserved in the larger interest of the region and the peoples of the two countries," he said.

"We have often called for making full use of the channels available like hotline between DGs MO and Sector Commanders’ meetings. Unfortunately, all our efforts to secure peace and tranquility on the Line of Control and the Work Boundary have elicited no cooperation from the Indian side. UNMOGIP must also be enabled to play its due role in monitoring ceasefire to secure peace and tranquility on the Line of Control and Working Boundary," he said.

At least three were injured in firing and shelling by Pakistani troopers on Tuesday  at 40 BSF posts along the border in Jammu and Samba districts as the border tension escalated, said reports.

Indian border men also retaliated to the ceasefire violation by Pakistan.

Exchanges are still continuing, said BSF.

The Pakistani firing started since last night.

Earlier in a fresh ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops occurred at  Kerni Sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Monday.

Union Minister of Defence Arun Jaitley on Monday gave a stern warning to Pakistan after ceasefire violations by saying that Indian armed forces are ready to retaliate with full force.

In the worst ceasefire violation by Pakistan along LOC in recent times, five villagers were killed and 29 people injured in heavy firing by Pakistani troops along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir after midnight on Sunday.

Two women and a 13-year-old girl were among those killed when Pakistan rangers resorted to firing at posts of the Border Security Force (BSF) and villages in the Arnia sub-sector of Jammu at around 1.30 am.

There was heavy mortar shelling and they fired automatic weapons.