Five Indian soldiers were killed by Pakistani soldiers who reportedly intruded into Indian territory at Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir state on Monday night.
The incident, considered a provocative attack, outraged the Indian Parliament on Tuesday with many members demanding a response from the government.
According to a report by Press Trust of India, Indian defense sources said the Pakistani soldiers, numbering about 20, intruded into the Indian territory past midnight and ambushed the patrol party at the Sarla post on the Indian side of the line of control.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdulla tweeted on Tuesday morning: “Was briefed early this morning about news that 5 of our soldiers had been killed on the LOC. My heartfelt condolences to their next of kin.”
Earlier this year, the relationship between the two countries suffered a set-back after Pakistani soldiers killed two Indian soldiers; one was reportedly beheaded.
Abdulla tweeted that such incidents derail the peace process between the two countries: “These incidents don’t help efforts to normalise or even improve relations with Pak [Pakistan] and call in to question the Pak Govt’s recent overtures.”
Media reports say that the incidents could affect the resumption of dialogue between the two countries. The prime ministers of the two countries are scheduled to meet in New York next month on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session.
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