SRINAGAR: The Indian army said two of its soldiers were killed Sunday in the latest exchange of cross border firing with Pakistan along the de facto border in Kashmir, amid heightened tensions between the countries.
One soldier was killed in a firefight as Indian troops pushed back against Pakistani “infiltrators” while another died in a separate incident, according to Army spokesman Col. N. N. Joshi and a further statement from the military.
Tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals have soared since September when militants attacked an Indian army base in Kashmir leaving 19 soldiers dead.
Since then the two sides have exchanged heavy fire almost daily leading to deaths of soldiers and civilians on both sides of the border.
India blamed the September attack on Pakistan-based militants and responded with “surgical strikes” on what New Delhi described as terrorist launching pads across the dividing line.
Pakistan denied the strikes took place and the two sides have since expelled diplomats from their countries.
The exchanges come against the backdrop of months of protests against Indian rule of Kashmir, sparked by the killing of a popular rebel leader in a firefight with Indian forces in July.
The unrest and clashes have left more than 90 civilians dead in government forces’ action to quell the protests.
Two Indians killed in cross border firing
Two Indians killed in cross border firing
