A landmine explosion along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Friday (February 7) killed at least five suspected Pakistani militants. The explosion took place in Battal sector.
One of the militants, allegedly attempting to cross to the Indian side from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), accidentally stepped on a landmine laid on the Indian side, Indian Express reported citing official sources.
The militants were reportedly also carrying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that exploded after the landmine was triggered.
Presently, security forces continue to assess the area. Heightened security measures are in place to prevent any more infiltration attempts in the region. Further details in this matter are awaited.
In a separate development, it was reported that an ambush attack by infiltrators from Pakistan on the Indian Army’s post along the LoC on the intervening night of February 4-5 was foiled. Indian soldiers gunned down seven Pakistanis, preventing potential harm to the post, India Today reported citing sources.
Both the alleged infiltration attempts came on the heels of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s comments that his government wants to resolve the issue of Kashmir, among others, with India.
“We want all issues, including Kashmir, to be resolved through talks,” Sharif said.
Sharif made the remarks while addressing a special session of the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad on the occasion of the “Kashmir Solidarity Day”, an annual Pakistani event to show support for the Kashmiris.
India has repeatedly told Pakistan and the international community that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
5 Pakistani militants killed in landmine blast while trying to cross LoC in Jammu’s Poonch
