India initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation: Pakistan ISPR

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today blamed Indian forces for initiating an "unprovoked ceasefire violation" that led to an exchange of fire between the border forces of the two countries, leaving three Pakistan Army personnel killed and one injured.

The incident took place during a heavy cross-border shelling by Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) yesterday evening, Pakistan's Dawn News reported quoting the ISPR.

India had initiated the "unprovoked ceasefire violation" that led to an exchange of fire between the two countries' border forces, the ISPR said.

The shelling occurred at Rukh Chakri sector in Rawlakot and also received a strong response from Pakistani forces, Dawn News reported.

The LoC that splits disputed Kashmir between India and Pakistan is heavily militarised and has frequently witnessed cross-border shelling in a serious breach of a truce agreement struck by two armies in November 2003.

The development came hours after the mother and wife of convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav were allowed to meet him in Islamabad in a “humanitarian gesture” according to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

Jadhav's mother and wife met him for around 40 minutes.

Jadhav was captured by Pakistani security forces on March 3, 2016, in Balochistan.

He was sentenced to death by a military tribunal earlier this year for his involvement in terrorism and espionage. His appeals against the conviction were rejected by the military appellate court and his mercy petition has been lying with Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.