MUZAFFARABAD, June 19: Unprovoked firing by Indian forces from across the Line of Control on Wednesday killed a nine-year-old girl in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and injured her mother and two other civilians, officials said.

“They (Indians) started firing…at about 9:15am…without any provocation, trapping the civilians who were busy in routine household work,” Deputy Commissioner Sohail Azam told Dawn by telephone of the incident that took place at Batal sector in the southern Poonch district.

“Initially, the firing was with small arms but later it became intense as they used mortars,” he said.

Mr Azam said Maryam, 9, and her mother, Samina, were injured in Batal village and Shahbaz and Kashif were wounded in Mandhol village. The girl died on way to an army-run health facility, he added.

In reply to a question, he said Indian guns fell silent when Pakistani troops retaliated. “At the moment there is calm, but people are scared,” he added.

In January, skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani troops in the Batal sector left three Pakistani and two Indian soldiers dead.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...