A meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK) and the recent ceasefire violations by Indian forces at the Line of Control (LoC) began Friday morning.

The federal cabinet condemned the ongoing Indian aggression in IoK and the unprovoked firing by Indian forces at the LoC yesterday due to which two Pakistani soldiers were martyred.  

During the meeting the prime minister reiterated that Pakistan stands in solidarity with the people of IoK who are struggling for their right to self-determination. He said the country is ready to counter any external aggression.

The prime minister would also apprise the federal cabinet of details of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and his meetings with world leaders.

It has been learned that PM Nawaz Sharif would brief the cabinet on important steps needed to be taken on IoK and recent ceasefire violations at the LoC, for which a joint parliamentary session of the Parliament has also been summoned on Wednesday.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry briefed the cabinet on the Kashmir issue.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said any armed conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals would cause destruction in the region. He said Pakistan is fully prepared to combat Indian aggression.

Khawaja Asif further said India would gain nothing from its atrocities in IoK.

On Thursday two Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom when Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing across the LoC. The unprovoked firing at the LoC in Kel and Lipa sectors began at 2:30 AM and continued till 8:00 AM, ISPR said.

The unprovoked fire was painted as a surgical strike by senior Indian officials, in a move apparently aimed to satisfy the public.

"India conducted a surgical strike at the Line of Control on Thursday to prevent terrorists from attacking Indian soil," said India's DGMO Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh at a press conference in New Delhi, according to Indian media.

Pakistan rebuffed the claims with the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) saying, "There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross-border fire initiated and conducted by Indian forces which is an existential phenomenon".

Of late, tensions soared high between the two nuclear-armed adversaries over occupied Kashmir and an attack on Indian army's brigade headquarters in Uri, which left 18 soldiers dead.