14 Indian soldiers killed in retaliation by Pakistan Army: sources

ISLAMABAD: At least 14 Indian soldiers have been killed in retaliatory firing by Pakistani forces in response to Indian aggression at the Line of Control, sources said on Thursday.

"My independent sources have told me that at least 14 Indian soldiers have been killed so far…8 casualties in one sector and 6 in the other. There are also reports that bodies of eight Indian soldiers are lying across the LoC in Tatta Pani sector," said Hamid Mir, senior journalist and host of Geo News programme 'Capital Talk'.

"There are also independent reports that six Indian soldiers have been killed by the Northern Light Infantry in a separate mission," he said.

Responding to Mir, defence analyst Major-General (Retd) Ijaz Awan said that his own sources had also confirmed the number of Indian soldiers killed in retaliatory Pakistani firing.

"Yes, this information is correct. Bodies are lying across Tatta Pani. I have spoken to eyewitnesses, who confirmed that the bodies were not picked up as of this evening," said the retired Army general.

Earlier, two Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom when Indian forces resorted to unprovoked firing across the LoC this morning. The unprovoked firing in Kel and Lipa sectors began at 2:30 AM and continued till 8:00 AM, the ISPR said.

The unprovoked fire was painted as a surgical strike by senior Indian officials, in a move apparently aimed to satisfy the public.

"India conducted a surgical strike at the Line of Control on Thursday to prevent terrorists from attacking Indian soil," claimed India's DGMO Lt.Gen. Ranbir Singh at a press conference in New Delhi, according to Indian media.

Pakistan rebuffed the claims with the ISPR saying, "There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross border fire initiated and conducted by Indian forces which is an existential phenomenon".

Tensions have soared high between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over Occupied Kashmir and an attack on the Indian army's brigade headquarters in Uri, which left 18 Indian soldiers dead.