India, Pakistan exchange heavy cross-border fire in Kashmir
India and Pakistan have exchanged "heavy" fire across the militarized de facto border in disputed Kashmir valley, days after New Delhi’s decision to scrap the autonomy of the Muslim-majority Himalayan region.
Media reports quoting an unnamed senior New Delhi government official said on Saturday that one Indian soldier had been killed in the violent clashes. "The exchange of fire is going on," the official said.
Pakistan has made no immediate comment on the latest round of violence.
On Thursday, Pakistan's military said in a statement that three Pakistani soldiers and five Indian troops had died at the contested border.
The two foes regularly fire potshots over the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed territory.
However, the latest exchange of fire follows a period of high friction between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Earlier this month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a surprise executive decree to strip the Indian portion of the Muslim-majority Himalayan region of its special status. Modi has claimed that the decision was necessary for Kashmir’s economic development and would stop “terrorism.”
Fearing an angry and potentially violent response, India dispatched thousands of additional troops to the region, declared a strict curfew, shut down telecommunications and internet services, and arrested political leaders and pro-independence campaigners.
India's decision sparked protests from the local population, outrage from Pakistan and unease from neighboring China.
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