A villager shows the wall of his house damaged due to firing from the Pakistan side at a village in R S Pura Sector.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal told gencies that three persons were killed in the firing.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry later on Friday summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to lodge a “strong protest”, the ministry said. However, sources said that Pakistani troops have continued to escalate ceasefire violations, and the number of such violations since July stands at 70-90, with seven deaths since then. “Pakistani troops initially exercised restraint however, responded befittingly when India started heavy firing”.

The latest ceasefire violation at the border comes just days before the high profile talks between the chiefs of BSF and Pakistani Rangers from September 9 for resolving border tensions between the two countries.

At least 10 civilians have been killed and more than 50 others wounded, as India and Pakistan traded fire across their disputed border, officials have said.

Singh said frequent firing by Pakistan “shattered” the life of the people living near the border and added that the government was doing everything possible for their welfare. “These are acts of desperation”.

In yet another ceasefire violation by the Indian forces, several localities of Sialkot district including Bajra Garhi, Sajeet Garh, Charwah, Harpal and Chaprar Sector were targeted.

According to witnesses, shelling from India obstructed rescue efforts because of which rescuers and local people faced difficulties in shifting the injured to hospitals.

About a dozen militant groups have been fighting since 1989 for either the independence of the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan. “Our forces have caught two terrorists sent from Pak to create an environment of terrorism”, he said.

Asked if the US would make any effort to restart the stalled talks, Kirby repeated: “This is an issue for India and Pakistan to come together and to resolve, and we’ve been very clear about that”.

Pak turns “cry baby” blames India over civilian killings. “Pak has nothing to talk from their end in the talks at the level of NSA“.

The situation was particularly volatile in view of the suspended dialogue between the two countries and absence of any conflict resolution mechanism, the army official said.