News
Sunday, July 28, 2013
India kills Pak soldier at LoCISLAMABAD: Indian firing killed a Pakistani soldier and wounded another on Saturday in Kashmir, the army said.
The Indian troops staged an “unprovoked” attack across the Line of Control (LOC). “A soldier embraced martyrdom while another was seriously injured due to unprovoked firing by Indian troops in Rawalakot area at the Line of Control (LoC),” the Pakistan Army said in a statement.
A Foreign Office spokesman in a statement said it was unfortunate that such an incident took place at a time when the two governments were making sincere efforts towards improving relations for resolution of all outstanding disputes.
“Pakistan calls upon the government of India to carry out a thorough investigation into this grave incident and to ensure that such occurrences do not take place,” the spokesman said in the statement.
On the other hand, the Indian army claimed it had fired in a “calibrated manner” in response to Pakistani firing. “Pakistani troops started firing unprovoked in the morning, firing rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machinegun fire and small arms,” Indian defence spokesman Colonel RK Palta told AFP.
“Our side retaliated in a calibrated manner and there were no casualties on our side,” he said, adding he had no comment on Islamabad’s statement that Indian firing had caused Pakistani casualties.
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 powers were also strained earlier this year 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.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised last month to “progressively pursue” good relations with India, while actively seeking solutions to issues with India, like disputed Kashmir. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk