ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by Indian security forces on the civilian population along the Line of Control (LoC).

In a statement, he sought better status in heaven for those civilians and soldiers of Pakistan Army, who martyred in the firing and prayed early recovery of the injured.

The Prime Minister saluted the Pakistan Army for their bravery, valiance, and giving a befitting response to Indian security forces.

Nine soldiers of the Indian army were killed and many others injured when Pakistan Army troops “effectively responded” to the latest Indian ceasefire violations, deliberately targeting civilians, in Jura, Shahkot and Nousehri sectors along the Line of Control, the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

Earlier, ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor stated that a soldier of Pakistan Army and three civilians embraced martyrdom, while two soldiers and five civilians sustained injuries in an exchange of fire. Later, in another tweet, he mentioned that the civilian casualties rose to five.