ISLAMABAD:
A Pakistani soldier was killed and another injured in a fire exchange between Indian and Pakistani troops along the heavily militarised de facto border in Kashmir on Sunday.
Pakistan said Indian troops crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and stormed a military post. The Indian military, however, denied that its soldiers had attacked a Pakistani position.
A statement released by Pakistan’s military said the Indian troops came across the de factor border in the Haji Pir sector, 80 kilometres north of Islamabad, and “physically raided” a check post named Sawan Patra.
“Pakistan Army troops effectively responded to the attack. One Pakistani soldier embraced martyrdom while another was critically injured,” the statement said, adding that the Indian troops retreated, leaving behind a gun and a dagger.
An Indian army spokesman in Srinagar, the winter capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, denied its troops crossed the LoC.
Colonel Brijesh Pandey accused the Pakistani military of firing mortar shells into a village in the Uri district, which faces Haji Pir in Azad Kashmir.
“At 3:15 am today, Pakistani troops resorted to heavy mortar firing, targeting a village in Uri sector,” Pandey told AFP, adding that the homes of some villagers were damaged. “We retaliated with small arms and the exchange continued for over an hour,” the spokesman said.
He said no Indian troops were hurt but had no information about any Pakistani casualties.
Indian army spokesman Colonel Jagadish Dahiya said Indian troops had not crossed the LoC. “However, there was a ceasefire violation by Pakistan. Our troops retaliated by firing,” Dahiya said. “None of our troops crossed the Line of Control. We have no casualties or injuries.”
There were more than 75 ceasefire violations along the LoC in 2012, killing eight people. Most of the violations were exchanges of fire between the two sides.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2013.
COMMENTS (21)
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@Arijit Sharma: bete naam badal kar comment mat kiya karo
I believe this was done after the series loss :P
@KH: "This is why we were broken by the britishers when they were leaving. so that for the next 100 years we just keep on fighting…." I can understand how or why British would like to see Muslims and non-Muslims fighting while they colonized India; it would be less problematic for them to rule such fractious people. But tell us, my friend, why would they want to see that feud going for "next 100 years" by remote control? If you are a Muslim, have the British managed to keep your feud with the rest of the world going through some 1400 years? If you are an Hindu, there is no cure for your fatal "bhai-bhai" syndrome. So, go light up a candle at Wagah! That will provide some solace to your "atma"!
Its really sad to see that both brothers keep fighting like this for a piece of land which is not worth it. The observation by Mazher is note worthy. The border should be like the US and Canada. Just imagine the economic boom both the countries will have if the borders were open and the money was spent on economic development rather than on SU and JF. If people like "Candid 1" keep harping about Kashmir it is only going to aggravate the situation since Indians will start talking about separation of NWFP; Sindh; Baluchistan etc; and we will be back to square one. The current military leadership in Pakistan seems to be level headed unlike the Ayubs; Yahyas and Musharaf; and ably supported by the Zardari Government. This needs kudos from India. They seem to be doing a good job inspite of all the internal and Afghan problems. From its part Manmohan Singh needs be congratulated in not escalating such issues to unwanted levels.When worst enemies such as the US and Japan could become great friends why not we??? This question needs a quick answer.
If this is how indians want live then its like opting for their own doom. There is no scope of such provocations between india and Pakistan as we have no such concept of friendly fire between us. Such irresponsible incidents eventually result in destruction not for one side but for both.
@zoro: The "hanky panky" is from the Indian side, as it is India that is in illegal occupation of Kashmir in violation of Kashmiris will, and global opinion as embodied in various UN Security Council resolutions. Just get out of Kashmir before spreading your aman ki asha smoke screen.
This is gift from the "Most Favorite Nation" India to Pakistan and such these types of gifts have been given to Pakistan in the past from the Most Favorits Nation India.This is not a new gift for Pakistan....
I would highly recommend to see this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy96lq-Nhx4
Some time ago Canada & US were the same as Pakistan & India now. Canada literally went down and burn down white house.Now their borders are open. No visas whatsoever
Google & Youtube it and you will find their history. Once we learn this history. We should ask ourselves, how far we are behind in the time line of the history of mankind. Should we not take the advantage to learn from history, take the lead and not repeat the history itself ?
Thou we agree to all above comments ... It has to be made abundantly clear that ... no hanky panky from Pakistani side will be tolerated anymore ... Retaliation in full force is the right answer ... as until now not responding to the attack ... was taken as Indian weakness ... and not a goodwill gesture ... Looks like Pakistan is bent upon breaking itself into 5 new countries...
It is high time we should make the borders irrelevent wherein both the countries retain their individual character yet one. The politics of both countries have divided the same cult of people in different classess,be it class, creed relgion, history or geography. It is not long before that we fought our joint battle of independence (Survival) from the colonial rule which eventually succeded in 1947. I think it is high time to revisit our relationship which has gone sour due to btter memories of separation and independence.
Just rush of blood
Pakistanis should look to sort this out as quickly and amicably as possible. Kayani should issue a message asking for peace and Hina Khar should call the Indian FM to quickly let this matter settle before anything goes out of hand and the bilateral talks/efforts at friendship should continue as per usual. It's regretful that a soldier died due to a misunderstanding.
Pakistan's first civilian-to-civilian transition of government is close. It will set a bad precedent in the country's history. Something must be done to scuttle it.
Why cant we Pakistan and India live together and prosper...This is why we were broken by the britishers when they were leaving. so that for the next 100 years we just keep on fighting....
@Sajid Well Said
We Indians are just evil people and we have no better work to do than needle the innocent state of Pakistan.
Good job Indian armed forces. Keep it up.
Professionalism of Indian Army has gone down the drain. They cannot control their own troops in the field.
well said mr singh
both our countries need to grow up
guns mortars are not toys
if a pakistani dies it hurts us just as much as it hurts them when a indian dies it achieves nothing time to stop
please
and now....we await the keyboard warriors...
To the KEYBOARDS!
Really, though. Nobody wants escalation. M.A.D