Border skirmishes: India claims soldier killed by Pakistan firing

Pakistani military spokesperson refuted the allegation; says no troops carried out any firing.

SRINAGAR: Pakistani troops shot and killed an Indian army officer on Friday near the countries' disputed border in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, Indian army officials alleged.

"A junior commanding officer was shot dead by the Pakistani troops near Poonch sector," a senior army official claimed in New Delhi.

"Suddenly there was firing from the other side and our officer was killed," the officer added, requesting anonymity.

The dead man, Bachan Singh, was posted in the Poonch region, 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of Indian Kashmir's capital of Srinagar.

Another senior army officer, Rajesh Kalia, stationed in Indian Kashmir, said the latest attack has "not been declared as a ceasefire violation" as a probe is under way.

Tensions spiked between New Delhi and Islamabad in January and February as six soldiers were killed in exchanges along the de facto border in Kashmir.

Four of the soldiers killed were from Pakistan while two were from India. One of the Indians was beheaded, allegedly by Pakistanis.

Relations between the two countries have also been strained in recent months by both sides protesting the deaths of prisoners held by the other.

The murder of an Indian prisoner in a Pakistani jail was followed by the tit-for-tat killing of a Pakistani prisoner in an Indian jail last month.

Pakistan denies allegation

Pakistan military spokesperson categorically denied the allegation, saying that no Pakistani troops carried out any firing across the Line of Control, ISPR reported.