Army kills seven Pak soldiers in ‘retaliation’

Jaish ultras gunned down in Uri sector

JAMMU: The Indian Army said on Monday it killed seven Pakistani soldiers along the Line of Control in Mendhar sector of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in “retaliatory action” against an “unwarranted and inhumane act”, days after an Indian soldier died in cross-border firing.

Both the countries accused each other of violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement amid celebrations in India on its 70th Army Day and a warning from the Army chief that Pakistan-sponsored terrorism would be met with a “stronger” response from his force. Also Monday morning, at least five suspected Jaish-eMohammad (JeM) militants planning to carry out a suicide mission were gunned down by security forces in Uri sector .

The publicity wing of Pakistan’s army, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said four sol- diers were killed and that they were busy with the maintenance of a communication line when they were “fired upon and hit by [a] heavy mortar round” in the Jandrot sector of PoK.

A post by the government of Pakistan on its Twitter handle also said four soldiers were killed.

Islamabad summoned Indian deputy high commissioner JP Singh to lodge a protest.

A senior army officer, however, denied there were casualties on the Indian side.

Meanwhile, army said a major infiltration bid - the first of 2018 has been foiled along the LoC in Uri sector . An army spokesperson said alert troops picked up the movement as the terrorists were moving along the banks of Jhelum. In the ensuing firefight, the army neutralised five ultras.