Pakistan summons Indian envoy in protest over soldiers' killing

India's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh (L) briefs media about the attack conducted by Indian military in New Delhi, India, Sept 29, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan on Thursday summoned Indian high commissioner in Islamabad, Gautam Bambawale, to Foreign Office and lodged a strong protest over the killing of two soldiers by Indian troop fires at Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan controlled Kashmir, local Urdu TV Channel Geo reported.

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry handed over the protest note to the Indian envoy, strongly condemning the unprovoked firing across the LoC, Geo TV quoted officials from the Foreign Office as saying.

Pakistan had sought a prompt reply from the Indian authorities over their forces' violation of the ceasefire at the LoC.

Bambawale was summoned after Indian forces opened fire at the LoC, which started at 2:30 a.m. and lasted till 6:30 a.m. local time on Thursday and killed two Pakistani soldiers.

Earlier in the day, India's Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh claimed that Indian forces entered Pakistan on the other side of LoC and carried out deadly "surgical strikes" on Wednesday night, however Pakistan army rejected the claims.

There have been no surgical strikes by India, instead there has been fire along the LoC to the east of Pakistan initiated and conducted by India, a spokesman of the Pakistani military said.

The Pakistani Foreign Office also issued a statement and said, "Pakistan strongly condemns unprovoked ceasefire violations at the LoC by Indian forces, which is a continuation of a pattern of ceasefire violations committed by the Indian forces. The valiant Armed Forces of Pakistan have given and will continue to give a befitting response to any aggression."

"We can assure India that any such aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished. Pakistan is ready to defend its people and territory from any Indian aggression or Indian State sponsored terrorism on the Pakistani soil," the statement added.

The LoC is seen as a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. The LoC is heavily guarded by military on both sides. Kashmir is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

Tension between the two states escalated after an attack at a military camp in Indian controlled Kashmir on Sept. 18, which killed at least 17 Indian soldiers. India said Pakistan was responsible for the attack, saying that the attackers infiltrated into the Kashmir from the Pakistani side, but Pakistan denied the accusation.