PAKISTAN SAYS INDIAN SHELLING KILLED 3 SOLDIERS IN KASHMIR

ISLAMABAD— Pakistani officials said on Tuesday that Indian fire across the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region killed three Pakistani soldiers.

In a statement, the military said the “unprovoked ceasefire violation” along the Line of Control took place on Monday in Rawalakot in Pakistan’s part of Kashmir.

Officials said Pakistan also returned fire but no other details were available and it was not clear whether India suffered any casualties as well.

There was no immediate response from India, but the two sides routinely accused each other of initiating fire.

Situation tense

On Tuesday, the situation was still tense in various parts of Kashmir and residents were fleeing to safer places.

Monday’s incident took place hours after the wife and mother of an imprisoned Indian naval officer, who faced the death penalty in Pakistan for espionage and sabotage, were allowed to meet with him in Islamabad.

The latest incident took place days after India’s Army claimed three Indian soldiers were killed and one injured in Pakistani firing along the highly militarized border between the nuclear-armed rivals.

India said that Pakistani soldiers violated the 2003 ceasefire by targeting Indian posts on Saturday in Rajouri.

Two of three wars

India and Pakistan have a long history of bitter relations over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, which is claimed by both in its entirety.

They have fought two of their three wars over the region since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.