DHAKA: Seven Pakistani soldiers have been killed by Indian shelling in disputed Kashmir.

The Pakistani military said the troops died in ‘unprovoked’ firing overnight in the Bhimber sector on the Line of Control (LoC). There was no immediate response from India.

It is thought to be the Pakistani military’s biggest single loss of life in Kashmir since a 2003 truce, reports BBC.

Tensions have flared over the long-running dispute since an Indian army base was attacked in September.

Both India and Pakistan accuse each other of violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement.

Both sides have reported civilians and a number of soldiers being killed or injured in recent weeks, during which time the LoC has seen intense exchanges of fire.

Hundreds of civilians in villages along the LoC have been evacuated.

The territorial dispute between India and Pakistan over Muslim-majority Kashmir has been running for decades.

Both nuclear-armed states claim the territory in its entirety but control only parts of it.

Two of the three wars fought between the two sides since independence have been over Kashmir.

After the 18 September army base attack on the Indian-administered side, the Indian military said it had carried out “surgical strikes” against suspected militants along the LoC.

Pakistan called the strikes an ‘illusion’ and denied Indian claims it was behind the militant attack.

BDST: 1847 HRS, NOV 14, 2016
AP/BD