No casualties were reported in the incident. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The fighting is the latest in a spate of recent cross-border skirmishes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours who have fought three wars since independence from the British rule in 1947, two over the Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.
Tensions have recently flared up in the heavily militarised Kashmir valley with both accusing each other of cross-border firings but Sunday's incident took place near the border in neighbouring Punjab province.
"Indian Border Security Forces resorted to unprovoked firing on Pakistani Rangers posts near Pukhlian, Head Marala area, in Sialkot sector," a senior military official, told AFP.
"Intermittent exchange of fire continues. No loss reported so far," the official added on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to media.
Indian Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday hinted at stronger military action along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir after Delhi accused Pakistan's army of involvement in a deadly overnight ambush on Monday that killed five Indian soldiers.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tried to ease tensions with India by urging both sides to work swiftly to shore up a 10-year ceasefire threatened by the recent attacks.
But in a fresh allegation of their own on Thursday, Pakistani military officials accused Indian troops of opening fire and seriously wounding a male civilian in the Tatta Pani sector along the LoC.
The picturesque Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored LoC, the de facto border, but is claimed in full by both countries.
A deadly flare-up along the LoC in January brought peace talks to a halt. They had only just resumed after a three-year hiatus sparked by the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people. India blamed Pakistani militants for the attack.
More than a dozen armed rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989, demanding independence for Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan.
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@Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry: ?
Supreme Court Of PakistanIN THE SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN (Original Jurisdiction) Present: Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, CJ Mr. Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry Mr. Justice Gulzar Ahmed
‘One-dish’ weddings
While introducing the Sindh Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Display and Wasteful Expenses) Bill, 2013 (the sixth bill of this year), Farooqi said the assembly had previous passed a resolution calling upon the government to take steps to ban wasteful expenses at wedding ceremonies and enforce “one-dish meals”.
The legislation, she said, was important as about 15 to 20 percent of the population could not afford unnecessary expenditures on holding marriage functions for their children at all. “The issue has been getting severe with the passage of time owing to the widening economic disparity in the society,” she claimed.
The bill, Farooqi claimed, not only called for imposing one-dish meal system at weddings but also restricting unnecessary display of wealth and social status through lavish arrangements for hospitability,food and beverages for guests.
“Islam also advocates solemnising marriages with simplicity,” she said while clarifying media reports that the dinner at her own engagement ceremony earlier this year did not have 43 dishes on the menu.
Child marriages
The Child Marriage Prohibition-2013 sparked a debate in the house as the Sindh Minister for Women Development claimed that her department had already prepared a similar bill after consulting woman parliamentarians, civil society, scholars and minorities.
Rubina Sadaat Qaimkhani believed Farooqi should have shared the draft of her bill with the department to include the finer points of the private bill in the government bill.
She added that the bill to ban pre-adulthood marriages of girls would be tabled in the assembly after approval by the Sindh cabinet.
Dr Mandhro said the two drafts would be clubbed together in a single bill so that legislation on this major societal issue could be adopted in its best form.
Child marriage prevention, Farooqi said, was important as it would amend the marriage laws after 84 years in order to set 18 years as the minimum age for youngsters, especially girls, to get married.
Must take action against these laws.
@Fahd: Oh ya! We are going to have another movie showing Pakistan never happened. √You know! You can make people believe in anything through movies. You can even see God & become a believer in God through movies. That's why I call it the biggest Magic of modern tiime Hollywood has pulled. You guys should try making good movies to eliminate all that violence over there, you know!
@Indian: when it comes to real action, I have seen indian soldiers begging Pakistanis for mercy. stick to the movies, you will be safer. the fact is, it is us Pakistanis that have had enough of your false arrogance and status so promoted by your immature Indian media.
@Chai: You're right about killing here becoming part of life now. But I don't see well off or highly educated Indian Muslims. Hindus take majority seats in even Aligarh Muslim university. Mulim mainly work for Hindu bosses not the other way around. Most skilled labor are Muslims. High education is only or mostly for high or low cast Hindu. Sorry but Muslim names are a rare commodity when it comes to big achievements there. Your "Per capita" income reference is totally flawed. There are more rich Muslims in Pak than in India. I invite you to please pay a visit. But again your govt don't want you see us living happily. Sad to say but we wish all of our brothers in India could join us. So there will be no hatred and jealous y from across.
@PakCiti: .. happy .. on what basis ..and muslims are not the only ones living in slums . Compare per capita income of indian muslims and pak muslims. Probably people in your country are happy killing each other in the name of religion.
@Manish: Nice advice! You have no idea how much trade & business is being compromised in the name of honor, domestic & international political struggle, defamation & propagation schemes. India as a mostly business minded nation has more to loose in terms of trade routes, trade partners, access to all cash Pak market while curing local poverty levels. Pak will definitely have more middle path sentiments due to trade with India along with learning tolerance and appreciation in the name of business if not happy with better economy due to trade. I mean how great it will be for India if Pak become its trade partner too along with all open routes to the rest of the world.
@Saim Baig: India already matured nation since very long time . But Limit is Limit. Ask your brothers to become matured . Ask them to operate more business with india rather than to operate terrorisam.
@Saim Baig:
"India needs to act like a mature nation. This is no Bollywood movie."
Well said. Indians started the 1948, 1965, 1971, Kargil war, attack on Indian Parliament, Mumbai attack, trained terrorists to attack their own country for the past 30 years...., while blaming poor Pakistan for all these attacks. Definitely the Indians think it is all Bollywood movie.
@chai: I have been to India. Muslims mostly fill the slums & no-mans land around big cities but to please their Hindu masters & to save their skin from any retaliation, they just say that. Pakistani Muslims are happier than Indian.
The LOC is an oasis of peace compared to the columns of ET!
"The picturesque Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored LoC, the de facto border, but is claimed in full by both countries." What UN was monitoring was the old UN-mediated cease fire line (CFL). India gave the marching orders to UN "monitors" as soon as Shimla Pact was signed and CFL was replaced by LOC (line of Control). India does not recognize any UN role in Kashmir any longer.
@Ashoka:
Amir masquerading as Ashoka?
@MAC
Yes I do ready ToI & Indiatimes ..... Gulfnews, Khaleej Times, CNN & BBC ..apart from leading Pakistani news papers.
@Ammar:
Which alternate planet are you from?
@Sajjad:
OK, fine.
Let’s decide and go on our merry ways. Get out of PoK.
India will start retaliating for every stupidity of Pak against India.
Vote Modi.
i am saying again & again. please Pakistan & people of Pakistan, stay away from us. we're the biggest hypocrites in whole earth. it's not even funny anymore.
we're very poisonous snakes. pakistan should stay away from us.
Election is approaching and "Hate Muslims & Pakistan" is what keeping BJP afloat so far. All fair in Love & War. Winning election is lot more rewarding they risk killing 5 of their own. A common part of election preparation in this "greatest democracy". Please read Indian papers too to feel real Pak hatred messages by BJP sponsored papers there. Killing 5 of their own followed with pre-planed riots is all a cheap plot of BJP. Many here with Muslim names are actually either Indian Muslims or namesakes. It's not hard.
@Mohammad: How do you know TOI is a hate preacher? So you have been there and read it. How and why did you do it?
@shahid .. Stop highlighting "Hindu" in Hindustan .. India has more muslim population than Pak... They are more educated, sophisticated and in better conditions than you people. The most important thing is .. they are not killing each other in the name of religion.
@Ayesha M, INSHALLAH we will not implode. Biggest worry is people like you who give up hope
@Saim Baig: Why Pakistan said that OBL was not in Pakistan, and what about Kargil?. Were they not refuted by you all. Why have you now admitted it. Were they not all conspiracies against Pakistan at that time. Wait more truth will also come out.
Both India and Pakistan, particularly the militaries, need to understand that both sides have extremist elements that cannot and will not let peace develop between the two nations. How is it that when Indians and Pakistanis live abroad, they become best friends but here, they fight like devils to each other? This has to stop. And I will say that the Indian media Loves to sensationalize and conspire. Pak media does not go as out of control as the Indian media does when something happens, without any evidence. It gets people roiled up and on the streets attacking dosti buses and Pak embassy in Delhi. I will say shame on Indian media. We have more responsible journalism here - Indians don't seem to know the cost of war. There will be no winner - just 2 sad nations with thousands dead over NOTHING!!
@Aysha M: Ma'am Your power center knows very well that igniting tension at our border would enable them to put their shortcoming under carpet.
Índia acts like a two year old girl who would pinch someone she hates and immedíately starts crying when she gets slapped in return, now she is pulling hair.
I wonder, how the Indians comes over here.. lectures us and run away... how their comments are goes on top with maximum recommend.
I would suggest you read Times of India, the hate preacher news paper and read the comments over there, match them the one from Pakistanis.
Pakistani news papers are new but mature enough, similarly comments from Pakistanis are more balanced and thought provoking than that of Indians.
The ratio of likes for above comments is Pakistani/Indian 60/25 ...means almost 35% of guys visiting here are Indians...
Thepoint to Ponder is that Y on Earth they are so interested In Pakistan matters?? Whereas we dont gove a damn about theirs...
The Indian newspapers reported that there has been an incursion from Pakistan side, Hours later, Pakistan Army releases its side, Why are the Pak Army always last to report. Are they distorting facts after reading Indian newspapers?
@Saim Baig: Yes, very soon you will understand that it was not a bollywood movie but real action.
@Saim Baig: India needs to act like a mature nation. This is no Bollywood movie. Expect a strong fightback!!!
Respectable sentiment, did you show the same resolve and sense of justice when a teenage unarmed girl (Malala) was shot by Talibans or when mob dispensed justice by lynching two brothers in Sialkot or when ..........
@Saim Baig: Yes you will soon understand that it was not a bollywood movie take care mate.
The reporter must have mentioned the incident of Pakistani soldiers allegedly killing five Indian troops. A complete background of the incident is lacking that certainly shows a partial approach.
well its a reflection of what Indians are doing in Kashmir .
Selfish politicians play their politics at the expense of killing and destruction. BJP is creating a situation where poor and helpless will suffer. War never bring peace and prosperity but who will explain this to the puppets of the west and the worshiper of the wealth.
India and Pakistan can never, NEVER EVER be friends. We're enemies, and we've to live like enemies!
@Indian:
seize fire? what is a seize fire please?
Just an observation, the soldier in the photo appears to be wearing US style protection armorer , helmet and armored vest. So who is really infiltrating and killing our soldiers. With what face is the US asking us to talk to Pakistan. Only Modi will bring clarity in this mess.
Everything is ok, nothing to worry about, because media is showing Indian films and awards on Islamic Eid day.
Nawaz sharif's government is a total failure just after 2 months!
@Bharat: That was a lie created by your government just like the Mumbai blasts and God knows how many others, you Indians are very deceptive.
Our PM wants peace, first they captured four men from within our territory and then killed them few days later calling them terrorists, then their UAV violated out airspace, then firing firing and firing. Believe me, few years down the line you'll hear some Indian telling you that they themselves killed their five soldiers just like Samjota Express, Gujrat massacre and parliament attack.
I am the enemy you killed, my friend
'At least 35 Pak soldiers killed by Indian Fire'. Now if this sufficies your cause, can my indian firends stop being war mongerers. By the way the indian soldiers were killed 5/6 KMs inside indian territory. Could have been a very well planned BJP act to sabotage any peace process between Pakistan & India not because they dont want peace with Pakistan but because they would like to get the credit for it. Remember the Lahore Declaration? my Indian friends :)
We are imploding anyway, why would India bother
@Indian & @Bharat Really?? Why AK Antony changed his statements about Pakistan's involvement after opposition's protest? Be ware & act smart, you blamed Samjhota Express fire & Malegaon blasts on Pakistan too & it turned out to be your guys in the end. So there is no point of retaliation, just pure war Warmongering. And if India keeps behaving like it is, we know exactly how to treat with bullies..!!!
@Bharat: This is how you differentiate between ET journalism vs. Times of India journalism. As times do not even have any clue like Indian army how and who killed there 6 soldiers after having every single kind of motion sensors across the LOC and rest of India Pakistan border. To all my Indian trolls friend pls don't waste time on writing comments or recommending them without some home work.
Thats immaturity for you. The Indian army. After all what can we expect from an armed force that spends 9 month tracking planetary drones.
@Bharat: So you don't come to the Tribune that often now, do you? http://tribune.com.pk/story/588275/india-accuses-pakistan-army-of-killing-soldiers-in-ambush/
@Bharat: Maybe you forgot conveniently that Hindus-tani forces started this by killing one Pakistani soldier; and now you all are crying;
@Indian One minute Indians claim moral superiority the next they start saying it's retaliation. The thing is that these things happen on the border. You won't see Pakistanis throw a fit over it. Yes, what happened is rather unfortunate but we would rather reach a diplomatic solution than start another blame game. That doesn't seem to be the case in India. Plus, why do so may Indians come to troll on Pakistani websites? Don't you have any news websites of your own?
@Saim Baig: And you expect them to be mature. Please come out of delusions mate, you know you are better than them. India will be India, nothing new...
@Indian: It is 'cease' fire and not 'seize' fire. By the way you have conveniently forgotten that Hindus-tani forces started this and killed one Pakistani trooper; So, what violation by Pakistan, it was Hindus-tani troops who did this by killing.
@ Saim Baig
Cool down brother. The 'fightback' you want,isn't wise...such egotistical measures can escalate into war.We need pragmatism and not emotion.Boring things like diplomacy are what saves lives and keeps peace.
@ET, What about the five Indian soldiers killed by Pak army in an ambush? Deliberately avoided mentioning the Indian soldiers' deaths? Poor journalism I must say.
I wish him and his opponents the title of a ghazi!
Such stories increase the anger in the publics mind and reduce the interest in peaceful solutions.Long standing tensions can be healed only with diplomacy and not fury and the cry of war,which will lead to massive loss of lives,on both sides.Whom does that benefit ? The firing wasn't unprovoked..print both sides of the story and let the media be part of the peace process,instead of inflaming the public.
India needs to act like a mature nation. This is no Bollywood movie. Expect a strong fightback!!!
This is not unprovoked this is retaliation for violation of seize fire by pakistanis