Pakistan Army has said Indian troops fired on Saturday across the Line of Control (LoC) in Sattwal Sector, targeting a group of shepherds. At least two of the shepherds were martyred and one was wounded, according to the military.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistan military said in a statement: “Today, at 1155 hours, Indian Army, in a display of its usual inhumane approach towards innocent Kashmiris, opened indiscriminate fire onto a group of shepherds in Sattwal Sector.”

“Resultantly, one civilian has embraced shahadat while two have been critically injured,” the military’s media wing said.

Another statement later added that one of the injured had succumbed to his wounds.

The martyrs were identified as Ubair Qayuum, 22, and Mohammad Qasim, 55. They were residents of Bara Dari Tatrinote.

“Driven by newfound geo-political patronage, Indian forces have embarked on a plan to take innocent lives to satiate their false narratives and concocted allegations,’’ the military said.

The Pakistan Army also warned India of retaliation.

“While a strong protest is being launched with the Indian side, Pakistan reserves the right to respond back in manner of its choosing to protect Kashmiri lives in the LOC belt.”

The Indian side is reminded to respect the basic human rights of Kashmiris, particularly, their inalienable right to their lands, ISPR added.

Pakistan summons Indian charge d’affaires

Pakistan summoned the Indian charge d’ affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register the country’s protest over the ceasefire violation committed by the Indian forces in the Satwal Sector of the LoC.

“Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, reaffirmed in February 2021,” it said.

The foreign office underscored that targeting civilians was contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The FO urged the Indian side to respect the ceasefire Understanding, investigate the incident, and maintain peace along the LoC.