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Indian firing kills 11, injure 31 Pakistanis this year: Advisor

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Aug 30, IRNA -- Pakistani parliament was informed on Friday that eleven Pakistanis, including eight soldiers, have been killed as the result of Indian unprovoked firing on the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region.

Speaking at the National Assembly or Lower of the Parliament, Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, said that thirty-one more people, including army troops, were also injured in firing since January.

The statement came amid escalations along the LoC that has caused diplomatic tension between the nuclear South Asian neighbours.

Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire they had declared in 2003. Guns had been relatively silenced since then however, although both sides started exchange of fire in January this year.

India also says that the Pakistani troops have killed several Indian soldiers.

The two countries have fought three wars, two over Kashmir since India and Pakistan's independence from the British colonial rule in 1947.

Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan wants mediation on the Kashmir issue to resolve it through talks.

India strongly opposes any mediation and insists that Kashmir is a bilateral matter between the two countries.

Delivering a policy speech in National Assembly on Foreign Policy issues‚ he said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has assured the Afghan President Hamid Karzai that Pakistan will support Afghan reconciliation process. He said that the prime minister will pay a visit to Afghanistan soon and that the date in this regard will be finalized soon.

Regarding Syria‚ Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan wants a peaceful solution of the conflict.

About US drone strikes, Mr. Aziz said that Pakistan demanded from the US to stop the drone attacks as it believes they are counterproductive and against our sovereignty. He also said Pakistan wants to strengthen its strategic ties with United States.

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