1 Pak soldier killed by Indian Army, toll rises to 5 in LoC

New Delhi, Jan 16: Media reports suggest that one Pakistani soldier was killed by

troops during the ongoing exchange of fire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours at Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday, Jan 15. Five casualties being reported so far from both countries since violence broke out in LoC.

The soldier was killed at a position called Kundi during firing from the Indian side that began at 10 pm (1630 GMT), Pakistan's army said in a statement.

Tension between the neighbouring countries escalated after India registered strong protest against brutal killings of two jawans by Pakistani soldiers.

Two Indian jawans were killed and their bodies subjected to barbaric and inhuman mutilation by Pakistani soldiers at Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch. Indian establishment expressed its strong protest against it and said that Pakistan's actions are tantamount to a war crime.

The Indian Army was quiet for sometime. However, finally on Monday, Jan 14, Army Chief General Bikram Singh broke his silence and warned Pakistan of retaliation. Singh has made it clear that the Indian soldiers deployed in Jammu and Kashmir will strike back strongly if there is any further provocation from their Pakistani counterparts.

Moreover, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned Pakistan with strong words. He said on Tuesday there could be no "business as usual" with Pakistan if the neighbouring country keeps on violating ceasefire agreement.

Speaking to reporters at a ceremony to mark India's Army Day, Singh said that the killings on Jan 8 on the Line of Control, in which one of the soldiers was beheaded, were a "barbaric act".

OneIndia News