Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged intense artillery strikes and gunfire overnight along their border in Kashmir, killing at least five civilians amid an escalating military standoff that began after an attack on tourists in the Indian part of the disputed region.
At least four civilians were killed and 12 wounded in Pakistan in areas near the Line of Control dividing Kashmir as unusually intense overnight artillery activity occurred, local police spokesman Adil Ahmad said.
Residents of border settlements noted that the shooting continued until early Friday morning.
“We are used to hearing about exchanges of fire between Pakistan and India along the Line of Control, but the situation last night was completely different,” said Mohammad Shakeel, who lives near the border in the Chakoti sector.
Indian military officials said Pakistani forces targeted their positions using artillery, mortars and small arms at various locations.
They said Indian troops responded to the provocation, triggering intense gunfire that continued into the early hours of the morning.
Police said a woman was killed and two other civilians were injured in the Uri sector, bringing the civilian death toll in India to 17 since Wednesday.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed adversaries have risen sharply since an April 22 attack on a popular tourist destination in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed 26 civilians, mostly Indian tourists.
New Delhi accused Pakistan of supporting the attack, but Islamabad denied the accusations.
India carried out airstrikes on Wednesday on several targets in Pakistani territory that it said were linked to militants, killing 31 civilians, according to Pakistani officials. Pakistan, for its part, said it shot down five Indian fighter jets.
Both countries reported drone attacks on Thursday, which the other side quickly denied. The incidents have not been independently confirmed.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
