(CNN) Two Pakistani soldiers were killed after an exchange of fire with Indian troops across the de-facto border between the two countries in the disputed region of Kashmir, Pakistan’s military said.
The Indian army said it had conducted “surgical attacks” in the area known as the Line of Control to foil a “terrorist attack,” according to India’s Director General of Military Operations.
Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh told reporters on Thursday the strikes had been based on “specific and credible information” that militants were planning to carry out strikes in Indian cities, including Jammu.
Indian paramilitary troopers stand guard near the graffiti written on shop shutter in Indian-controlled Kashmir
“The operations were basically focused to ensure that these terrorists do not succeed in their design of infiltration and carrying out destruction and endangering the lives of citizens in our country,” he said.
Long-disputed territory
He said Pakistan’s forces were capable of defending their territory and would stop any “evil design” against their country.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident, saying India’s claims to have carried out surgical strikes were “baseless” and accusing India of “deliberately” escalating tensions.
“Such falsified, concocted and irresponsible statements can only escalate the already fragile security situations in the region,” the statement said.
Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region, has been disputed territory between India and Pakistan for the past 70 years.
Both of the nuclear-armed countries hold separate parts of it and have fought two wars, in 1948 and 1965, over their claims. They came close to a third, in 1999.
Pakistan leader slams ‘evil designs’
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the latest attack in a statement, calling it “unprovoked and naked aggression” of Indian forces.
He said Pakistan’s forces were capable of defending their territory and would stop any “evil design” against their country.Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the country’s army had responded in a “befitting” manner.
“If India tries to do this again we will respond forcefully. India is doing this only to please their media and public,” he said.
It was one of the deadliest attacks to take place on an army base in Kashmir since militant attacks began in 1989, and sparked a furious war of words between India and Pakistan.
Key dates
• India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain in August 1947, but Kashmir initially decides to remain independent
• The two countries go to war over the territory for the first time in October 1947.
• India and Pakistan agree to withdraw all troops behind a mutually agreed ceasefire line on 1 January 1949, later known as the Line of Control.
• The two countries go to war again in August 1965 when Pakistan invades Indian-held Kashmir, but the fighting produces little territorial gain.
• Both sides withdraw from the disputed territory in January 1966.
• Fighting erupts between India and Pakistan in 1971, ending in July the following year with the Simla Agreement, which establishes the Line of Control. However, the two sides continue to argue over the border.
• There is conflict again in May 1999 when armed invaders cross the Line of Control into Indian-administered town of Kargil. India regained possession of the town two months later.
• After years of de-escalation, tensions rise in 2016 when 18 Indian soldiers are killed in an attack by armed militants in Indian-administered Kashmir on September 19.
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