News / India

Soldier killed in attack near paramilitary camp in Kashmir

Monday, 12 February 2018 9:55 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 12 February 2018 11:05 AM ]

Indian soldiers enter the Sunjuwan Military Station in Jammu on February 10, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Fresh fighting breaks out between gunmen and Indian soldiers in the main city of New Delhi-administered Kashmir, only hours after a two-day gun battle came to an end in the disputed region.

The clashes began on Monday after two gunmen opened fire on a building near an army camp in Srinagar, killing at least one soldier, officials said.

Police said they cordoned off the area after they cleared the building of all civilians. Police also said the troops are still exchanging fire with the gunmen.

Late Sunday, Indian troops ended a gun battle that had begun at dawn a day earlier when a number of militants stormed the Sunjuwan army base on the outskirts of the region’s Jammu area.

Three militants were killed by late Sunday night. At least five soldiers and a civilian were also killed in the clashes, which was the deadliest in recent years.

India once again blamed a Pakistan-based group for the weekend attack on its army camp.

The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between the two nuclear-armed countries since their independence from Britain in 1947. The disputed region is claimed in full by both sides, who often accuse each other of violating a 2003 ceasefire agreement.

Indian army soldiers take positions outside the residential quarters on the second day of a militant attack at Sunjwan Army camp in Jammu on February 11, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Pakistan, which constantly denies the allegations, warned New Delhi on Monday against cross-border strikes in the region.

In a statement by its Foreign Ministry on Monday, Islamabad called on the international community to “urge India to stop the untold atrocities and gross violations of human rights” in the region.

“It is a well established pattern that Indian officials begin making irresponsible statements and leveling unfounded allegations, even before any proper investigation in any incident has been initiated,” it added.

The two countries have fought three wars over the disputed territory. Despite a ceasefire agreement that was reached in November 2003, sporadic skirmishes continue in Kashmir.

Armed battles between Indian forces and pro-independence militants over the years have killed nearly 70,000 people, mostly civilians.

Kashmir’s mostly Muslim population have been demanding that the region be given independence or be merged with Pakistan.

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