India shelled areas of Kashmir ahead of Russia-NATO exercises in Pakistan

One civilian was killed and three wounded as a result of shelling of areas of Kashmir under the control of Pakistan from India. This is reported by the Ministry of Defense of Pakistan.

It is specified that a 50-year-old woman died, other civilians, including a four-year-old child, were injured. “Indian troops have provoked a ceasefire violation in the Thatta Pani and Jandrot sectors along the contact line by deliberately firing mortars and heavy weapons at the civilian population,” the Pakistani military said.

India has violated the ceasefire more than 3,000 times this year, killing at least 28 civilians and injuring more than 249, according to Pakistan.

"These egregious violations of international law reflect India's consistent attempts to escalate the situation along the line of contact and pose a threat to peace and security in the region," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

India is also recording civilian casualties in areas of Kashmir under its control as a result of shelling, which it blames on Pakistan. So, as a result of only one clash on November 13, four soldiers and four civilians from the Indian side were killed. On the Pakistani side, four civilians and one military were also killed that day.

Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors in South Asia remain high. Last week, shelling from India across the Line of Control damaged the vehicle of United Nations military observers who were part of a mission to establish the facts of violations of international agreements in Kashmir.

As a result of the shelling, no one was injured, but the UN mission vehicle was damaged. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed outrage over the incident. Meanwhile, the Indian Foreign Ministry denied that Indian troops were involved in the incident.

In February, Pakistan will become the host country for joint exercises of the Russian Navy and the Naval Forces of NATO countries. During the exercises, the ships of the participating countries will work out joint anti-terrorist actions, as well as ways to counter modern piracy.