Five Indian civilians killed in border clash with Pakistan

SRINAGAR - Five Indian civilians were killed and at least 25 wounded on Monday in fighting along a stretch of the disputed border with Pakistan in the disputed Kashmir region, the heaviest toll since India called off a round of peace talks last month.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947. They have fought three wars and came close to a fourth in 2001 and there have been regular clashes along the de facto border, known as the Line of Control (LoC), in the area.

Pakistani forces shelled the village of Arnia about three km (two miles) from the border in the early hours of Monday, killing and wounding the civilians, according to Rakesh Kumar, an inspector general of the Indian border security forces.

The attack coincided with the Eid al-Adha festival, celebrated by Muslims in both countries. Pakistan's army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Another Indian officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Brijesh Panday, said the army later shot dead three Pakistani-based militants trying to cross into India further along the heavily militarized LoC. Two militants escaped back to Pakistan, he said.

Muslim separatists have been fighting Indian forces in India's part of Kashmir since 1989. Pakistan rejects Indian accusations that it trains and arms the rebels in the part of Kashmir it controls and sends them into the Indian side.

The latest round of mortar and gunfire began on Friday, when Pakistan's army said it responded to "unprovoked firing" from the Indian side.

Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said the army would retaliate to the latest violence.
[jpost.com]
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At least four Pakistani nationals were killed and nine others were injured as Pakistan and Indian troops exchanged fire along the border, the military said Monday.

Border troops traded fire along the Working Boundary in Sialkot area in Punjab, an army statement said.

Indian media also reported that five people died and over two dozens injured on its side of the border.

"Four civilians were killed when Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing on the working boundary in Sialkot on Monday morning,"the statement said. Those killed included two children, a woman and an elderly man.

"Pakistani troops effectively retaliated to Indian firing,"it further said.

Civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed on the first day of the Muslim festival of"Eidul Azha,"the statement said, adding that"Pakistan Rangers have effectively responded to BSF fire."

Indian forces also resorted to unprovoked firing on LoC in Nikial, Karela, Kot Kettera, Hot Spring and Jandrot sectors, the army said.

Both accuse each other of violating a 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control that divides both countries in the disputed Kashmir region.

Monday's firing was seen as the heaviest in months and the reported casualties are high than the previous exchanges.

Earlier on Sunday, Indian troops violated the Line of Control ( loC) ceasefire and resorted to unprovoked firing in Jandroot Sector near Kotli.
[globaltimes.cn]
6/10/14