India, Pakistan Exchange Fire Near LoC, Several Dead

The Indian Army launched an artillery assault close to Dhudnial near Keran sector along the Line of Control (LoC), killing several Pakistani soldiers.

Quoting unnamed Indian military sources, India's Hindustan Times newspaper reported that it was in response to firing from the Pakistani side. 

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, stated that the Indian Army initiated “unprovoked ceasefire violations along LOC deliberately targeting civilian population in Baroh, Dhudnial, Rakhchikri and Chirikot Sectors.”

While Pakistan claims India’s attack was “unprovoked,” sources told Hindustan Times that Dudhnial was targeted in retaliation to Pakistani ceasefire violations.

Citing sources from the security establishment, the Indian media reported that 15 Pakistani Army soldiers and 8 militants lost their lives. However, the ISPR in its statement said one person was killed while five others sustained serious injuries “due to indiscriminate Indian fire of heavy weapons and mortars.”

The Pakistan Army spokesperson said the Pakistan Army countered the Indian assault by targeting Indian Army posts along the LoC with matching weapon calibre or simply put artillery guns and heavy mortars. 

“This was an effort to camouflage the extent of casualties on the Pakistani side,” the Indian media reported, quoting Indian intelligence reports.

A few days ago, India lost five Army commandos from 4 Para Special Forces deployed in Kashmir, in an “intense hand to hand battle” with five militants in the Keran sector. Four terrorists were slain in that operation, the Indian MoD had said in a release.

Earlier, the Pakistani ISPR had claimed its army shot down an Indian surveillance  quadcopter. This news was not confirmed from the Indian side.