India summons Pak HC, lodges protest over ceasefire violations

India on Sunday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and lodged a strong protest over ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in which six people, including a woman, have been killed.

Basit was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry by Secretary-East Anil Wadhwa who conveyed India's strong protest over the issue.

After the meeting, Basit said an effective mechanism was required to determine who is engaged in ceasefire violations.

Six people have been killed in heavy firing and mortar bomb shelling by Pakistani troops at several Indian posts and civilian areas since Saturday.

On Independence Day, five civilians, including a sarpanch, were killed and five others injured in heavy firing and mortar bomb shelling.

A woman was killed on Sunday in heavy mortar shelling from the Pakistani side. It was the eight day of continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

Basit was summoned even as the two countries get ready for the first-ever NSA-level talks in New Delhi on terrorism related issues next week.

National security advisors of India and Pakistan -- Ajit Doval and Sartaj Aziz -- will hold talks on terrorism-related issues for the first time on August 23.

During the talks, India is expected to present strong evidence of terrorism emanating from Pakistan highlighted further by recent attacks in Gurdaspur in Punjab and near Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.