At 3:30 pm on Monday 15 Pakistani soldiers crossed the LoC at Kupwara (Baramulla district) attacking Indian troops from an Indian observation post. Four Pakistani soldiers and an Indian soldier from the 22 Rajput Battalion were killed in the gunfire.
Early reports suggest that the trouble began when a group of Pakistani soldiers crossed the LoC waving white flags. When an Indian patrol set out to talk to them, the Pakistanis opened fire.
“Around 3:30 pm we spotted about 10-12 Pakistani troops. They had crossed the LoC and when our patrol party set out to talk to them, they opened fire killing one of our soldiers,” said Indian defence spokesperson Lt Col Anil Mathur.
The construction of a bunker by the Indian Army near the LoC was the apparent reason for the Pakistani decision to cross into Indian-held territory, which is in violation of the 2003 agreement.
Similar incidents have been reported from Bimbergalli, Gurez, Mendhar, Tangdhar and other sectors in the last two-three months.
According to Indian sources, on 17 July there were three violations in just one day.
India also accused Pakistan of direct involvement in the attack against the Indian embassy in Kabul, which killed more than 40 people.
The recent flare-up confirms Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon’s fears that the peace process was “under stress’.
For this reason the two countries have proposed a summit to discuss recent ceasefire violations. (NC)