Army hits back across LoC after jawans' killing, Pak on defensive

The Indian Army has hit back very hard at the Line of Control with Pakistan, especially in the sectors opposite Poonch and Mendhar where five Indian soldiers were recently killed in a raid by the Bordet Action Team of the Pakistani army.

On Thursday, two Pakistani soldiers were killed in Indian retaliatory fire. They were, as per the Express Tribune of Pakistan, identified as Lance Naik Hsbibullah in Rakhchakri sector and Sep Gul Wahab in Hot Spring.  Two more were injured in the Hot Spring sector.

One Pakistani officer, a young captain, was also killed on Wednesday on the Shakma valley opposite Kargil.

However, according to Dharti, a newspaper from Rawalakot -- opposite Poonch -- four soldiers were killed, two soldiers and 12 civilians were injured on Thursday. The Pakistani Army has reportedly asked civilians to move to safer places.

Indian army sources say units deployed along the LoC have been instructed to retaliate strongly whenever Pakistani forces open fire and violates the ceasefire. There have been 28 violations along the LoC starting from Poonch right up to Kargil since August 6. 

India has hit back with small arms fire, heavy machine guns and even mortars, but has avoided using artillery guns to avoid escalation beyond a point. 

According to the Indian assessment, the number of ceasefire violations has increased because the Pakistani forces deployed along the LoC fear punitive action by Indian troops after the August 6 killing of Indian soldiers possibly when they were resting during their patrolling duty.

Pakistan's foreign office has twice summoned officials of the Indian high commission in Islamabad to protest against what it calls India's "aggression" on the LoC.