Death toll of Pakistani nationals from Indian shelling reaches 10

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani security officials said Wednesday that death toll of civilians from the Indian shelling over the past three days has reached 10, and two dozen others have been injured.

Two civilians were killed and two others injured in an Indian firing on Tuesday evening along the Working Boundary in Sialkot district in Punjab province. One of the injured died from his wounds early Wednesday, hospital sources said.

Officials of the paramilitary Rangers said Indian troops resorted to "unproved firing," killing one person in Harpal sector. Another person died later in Chaprar sector.

Rangers, who guard the boundary with India, respond to Indian firing, officials say. On Monday, Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing at Charwa sector, Sialkot, killing four Pakistani civilians including two children and a woman, the army says.

Officials and witnesses say Indian shelling of mortars has caused damage to buildings and houses along the working boundary. They also said nearly 20,000 people have fled homes from the area.

Both countries had declared ceasefire in 2003 and the current escalations could pose a threat to the ceasefire.

Pakistan's top national security adviser Sartaj Aziz has urged India to observe a ceasefire.

On its part, Indian officials have also reported casualties in Pakistani firing. As there is no let up in the exchange of fire, Pakistan has raised the issue at the United Nations, officials said.

The country's permanent UN envoy, Ambassador Masood Khan, expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of violations of the cease fire at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary by the Indian security forces.

Participating in a debate in General Assembly, Khan called upon the Indian government to immediately observe ceasefire and help preserve tranquillity, state radio reported Wednesday.

He said United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan must be enabled to play its role in monitoring the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also urged India and Pakistan to resolve their outstanding issues through negotiations, Radio Pakistan reported.

The UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the Secretary-General has always called for India and Pakistan to resolve their issues " diplomatically and through discussions.

The US State Department has also shown concerns at the escalations and called for calm.

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