Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged heavy stolen from shells and shots on their border at cashmere during the night, killing at least five civilians in an increasing military confrontation.
In Pakistan, an unusual night’s artillery exchanges killed at least four civilians and injured 12 others in areas near the control line (LOC) which divides cashmere, said Adeel Ahmad, responsible for the local police. Residents of border towns said the shots were continuing well on Friday morning.
“We are used to hearing the fire exchange between Pakistan and India at the control line, but last night was different,” said Mohammad Shakil, who lives near the border in the Chakothi sector.
In India, military officials said the Pakistani troops have crossed their posts overnight with artillery, mortars and shots in several places in the cashmere controlled by India. They said the Indian soldiers responded, triggering ferocious exchanges until early dawn.
A woman was killed and two other civilians were injured in the URI sector, police said, passing the number of civilian people in India at 17 since Wednesday. Pakistan said that Indian mortar and artillery fires killed 17 civilians in cashmere administered in Pakistan during the same period.
The Indian authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of civilians from the villages near the volatile border. Thousands of people slept in shelters for a second consecutive night.
