3 soldiers, 6 civilians killed in Pakistani firing at LoC

srinagar — Indian and Pakistani forces on Friday waged their biggest artillery battle in several months on Kashmir border, leaving at least nine dead and many wounded, officials said.

Five clashes — involving shelling and gunfire — were reported along the 740km long border that has separated the nuclear-armed neighbours for the past seven decades.

The new peak in tensions came only five days after three Indian troops and three militants were killed in an exchange along the so-called Line of Control (LoC).

After Friday’s battle, India’s military accused Pakistan of an “unprovoked” violation of ceasefire that is habitually breached several times a week. “Pakistan used mortars and other weapons” and “deliberately targeted civilian areas”, said an Indian army statement.

Three Indian soldiers were killed and three wounded in the Keran sector of the frontier. Kashmir police said six civilians were killed and at least three suffered serious injuries, with one man losing both legs.

Inhabitants of several villages were moved away because of the fighting.

Indian troops “retaliated strongly causing substantial damage to the Pakistan army’s infrastructure and casualties,” added the military statement.

Pakistani officials said there were casualties on its side of the LoC, but did not immediately give figures. —

Pakistan used mortars and other weapons and deliberately targeted civilian areas Indian Army