New Delhi: India on Tuesday summoned Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah and lodged a “strong protest" at the death of three minor Indian children in firing by Pakistani troops in violation of a 2003 ceasefire pact.

The three children were killed in Kashmir’s Poonch sector on Monday.

“It was conveyed that such deliberate targeting of civilians was not acceptable and was against humanitarian norms and practices," an Indian statement said.

“Strong concern was also expressed at continued unprovoked firing by Pakistan forces across the Line of Control and the International Boundary in violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding. (So far) 503 such violations have been carried out by Pakistan forces so far during 2017," the statement said.

India and Pakistan routinely accuse each other of breaching the 2003 pact. India says Pakistan violates the agreement to help terrorists infiltrate into India, a charge Islamabad denies. New Delhi on its part says that it retaliates to Pakistani firing along the border.

The two countries have fought four wars—three of them over Kashmir—since independence from British rule in 1947.

On 27 September, Pakistan summoned Indian deputy high commissioner J.P. Singh and condemned what it said was “unprovoked" firing from the Indian side of the border.

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