Lahore: Two Pakistani Army soldiers lost their lives when Indian troops initiated ‘unprovoked’ firing across the Line of Control (LoC) on Thursday, said a press release issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to the statement, the incident occurred in Bhimber sector, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “Indian troops initiated unprovoked firing in Bhimber sector. Two Pakistan army soldiers embraced shahadat,” the ISPR said in a late night press release. The ISPR identified the deceased soldiers as 32-year-old Sepoy Muhammad Munir Chohan, a resident of Rakri Chohan village in Forward Kahuta tehsil of Haveli, and 28-year-old Sepoy Aamir Hussain, a resident of Danna village in Samahni tehsil of Bhimber. Pakistan army troops reportedly responded to Indian firing and reports of substantial damage to Indian posts were received. The heavily militarised LoC that splits the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir between Pakistan and India has been constantly witnessing exchanges of fire in a serious breach of a ceasefire agreement signed by the two armies in November 2003. Resultantly, a number of civilian casualties have also occurred in AJK region.
Published in Daily Times, March 1st 2018.