7 Pakistani soldiers killed in cross-border fire

Risingbd Desk: Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed by Indian shelling across the frontier in the disputed Kashmir region overnight, Pakistan`s military said on Monday, as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors simmer.

Pakistan`s military media wing, ISPR, said in a statement the seven soldiers were killed in the Bhimber sector on the "Line of Control" de facto border in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

An Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.

Relations between Pakistan and India have been strained for several months, while cross-frontier shelling has intensified in recent weeks leading to deaths of civilians and soldiers stationed along the disputed frontier.

Tensions have been fraught since July when India-administered Kashmir was rocked by street protests after the killing of a militant leader there.

Islamabad launched an international campaign to highlight alleged rights abuses by Indian security forces in Kashmir, while New Delhi blamed Pakistan for fanning the unrest.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/DHAKA/Nov 14, 2016/Amirul