Islamabad, Sep 18 (IANS): Pakistan on Friday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to the foreign ministry and lodged a protest over a "recent cross-border shelling that killed at least three civilians".

The army said the civilians were killed due to "Indian unprovoked firing" in Nakial sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region on Thursday.

"The Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J.P. Singh was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to protest against the shahadat (martyrdom) of three civilians, in Nikial sector, due to the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian Security Forces at the Line of Control," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The Government of Pakistan has expressed its deep concern at the continuous unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian Security Forces and the intentional targeting of innocent civilians, which is highly condemnable," the statement said.

The foreign ministry said Pakistan has stressed upon India to stop forthwith these ceasefire violations and respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement in order to restore peace and tranquility at the LoC and the Working Boundary.

Pakistan and India declared ceasefire along the LoC in 2003, however, border troops occasionally traded fire. Both countries accused each other of the ceasefire violations.