Pakistan alleges Indian army killed Pakistani soldier in Kashmir

A Pakistani soldier was killed and another injured in a gunfight between Indian and Pakistani troops in Kashmir on Sunday, a disputed incident that could heighten tensions between the nuclear neighbours after a period of rapprochement.

The Pakistani army said Indian troops had raided their Sawan Patra checkpost in Kashmir, a hotly contested area both countries claim as their own.

The Indian military denied its soldiers had attacked a Pakistani position.

“Pakistan army troops effectively responded and repulsed the attack,” a Pakistani army spokesman said in a statement.
The two sides then exchanged fire across the Line of Control, patrolled by troops from both countries, he said.

Indian army spokesman Colonel Jagadish Dahiya said Indian troops had not crossed the Line of Control. “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.”

Another spokesman for the Indian army said its post at Churuda, 100 km northwest of Srinagar, came under “unprovoked” heavy mortar and automatic gun fire for about five hours early on Sunday.

“We did retaliate,” Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.
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.