Areas near the border have been on high alert because of a spurt in firing from Pakistan.
Highlights
- At least 4 Pakistani posts destroyed, heavy casuaties on Pak troops: Army
- Sources tell NDTV that casualties on Pakistani side could be up to 20
- India retaliated after Pak repeatedly violated ceasefire along LoC
Indian forces have destroyed at least four Pakistani posts and inflicted heavy casualties on Pakistani troops in the Keran sector along the Line of Control, the army said on Saturday, after repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the LoC and International Border.
The Indian Army described the assault as "massive". Top sources told NDTV that the casualties on Pakistani side could be up to 20.
The strikes came after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Kathua and RS Pura sector along the International Border on Saturday. At night, after the Indian assault, Pakistan fired at the RS Pura, Keran and Hiranagar sectors.
Pakistani forces have been targeting Indian posts in more than 45 ceasefire violations since India carried out surgical strikes and destroyed seven staging areas for terrorists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir last month.
Four army and three BSF personnel have died in strikes by Pakistan and terrorists in the last one month. At least four civilians in border villages have also been killed and several others have been injured. Areas near the border have been put on high alert and much of it has been evacuated.
An
Indian soldier was killed on Friday and his body mutilated by terrorists in an attack near the Line of Control. The army had said "the incident will be responded to appropriately", adding the attackers had fled into Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir "under the cover of heavy firing by Pakistan army".
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that security forces were responding to the firing from Pakistan appropriately. The BSF on Friday said that
15 Pakistani soldiers were killed in Indian strikes over the past week.
Sources said Shahbaz Sharif, brother of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on Friday, had visited villages along the International Border that have been targeted by Indian forces, to take stock of the damage.
Amid the escalation in hostilities, the BSF has said that it will neither send nor receive sweets from Pakistani Rangers at Wagah Border today on Diwali.